Til  E 


.EN  KID    OF    VIRGIL 


TRANSLATED  INTO  ENGLISH  BLANK  I'ERSE 


CHRISTOPHER     PEARSE     CRANCH 


Prisca  fides  facto,  sed   fama  perennis 


BOSTON 

HOUGHTON,   OSGOOD   AND    COMPANY. 

1879. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872, 
BY    JAMES     R.    OSGOOD     &.    CO., 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 
v  3  &  /0 


University  Press  :  Welch,  Bigelow,  &  Co., 

I     Wli.KIDGE, 


PREFACE. 


IN  the  translation  of  the  great  Roman  epic  here  offered  to 
the  public,  I  have  endeavored  to  fulfil  two  necessary 
requirements :  first,  to  render  the  original  Latin  as  literally 
and  concisely  into  pure  idiomatic  English  as  could  be  consist- 
ent with  a  strict  metrical  form ;  and,  secondly,  to  make  it, 
as  ably  as  I  could,  a  poem,  retaining  somewhat  of  the  spirit 
of  the  original.  I  have  made  an  earnest  attempt  to  do  what 
I  believe  has  not  yet  been  successfully  done,  —  a  faithful  ren- 
dering of  the  iEneid  into  fluent,  poetic,  yet  compact  and 
carefully  constructed  blank  verse. 

All  the  best  poetical  translations  of  it  into  English,  hith- 
erto, have  been  done  chiefly  in  rhymed  couplets  ;  and  all, 
whatever  their  other  merits,  have  failed  more  or  less  in 
fidelity,  for  the  simple  reason  that  they  are  rhymed.  One 
need  only  compare  the  best  known  version,  Dryden's,  with 
the  Latin,  to  see  the  lamentable  transformations  the  old 
Roman  bard  has  suffered  (even  when  piloted  by  a  poet)  at 
the  hands  of  that  seductive  siren,  Rhyme.  Or,  to  come 
down  to  our  own  day,  take  the  newest  rhymed  version, 
Professor  Conington's,  and,   in  spite    of  his  infinitely  greater 


iv  Preface. 

fidelity  to  the  exact  language  of  Virgil,  there  will  still  be 
found  the  inevitable  failures  marking  the  same  despotism. 
The  conscientious  translator  is  called  upon  for  surrenders 
and  sacrifices  that  cannot  be  afforded.  Is  it  not  too  much 
to  expect,  that  any  one  mortal  should  have  skill  to  mould 
the  delicate  and  compact  sentences  of  the  Latin  poet  into  a 
form  so  unbending  in  its  verbal  exactions  ?  And  these  exac- 
tions are  not  only  attended  by  perpetual  lapses  into  incorrect 
or  weak  paraphrase ;  the  incessantly  recurrent  rhyme  gives 
an  almost  unavoidable  appearance  of  antithesis,  which  dis- 
turbs the  clear  simplicity  and  directness  of  the  original. 
Thus  the  very  fashions  which  the  school  of  Pope  and  Dry- 
den  thought  fitting  and  beautiful  and  noble,  and  in  which  it 
loved  to  drape  the  old  classic  bards  till  it  almost  hid  their 
forms  from  us,  are  seen  to  be  quite  inappropriate  when 
tested  by  our  modern  demands  and  our  juster  principles  of 
translation.  The  translator  has  only  to  try  his  hand  at  it, 
to  see  to  what  shifts  he  is  reduced  when  fettered  by  these 
jingling  chains;  to  find  out  to  what  frequent  slurrings  of 
delicate  graces  and  meanings,  to  what  grave  omissions,  addi- 
tions, dilutions,  and  circumlocutions  he  is  pledged.  If  it  be 
true  that 

Rhymes  the  rudders  are  of  verses, 

By  which,  like  ships,  they  steer  their  courses, 

it  is  also  true  that  they  are  rocks  and  shoals  on  which  poet- 
ical translations,  in  spite  of  the  adroitest  steering,  too  often 
split.      In  a  word,   Translation  becomes  Transformation. 


Preface.  v 

I  am  aware  that  there  are  classical  scholars  of  poetic  tastes, 
who,  while  dissatisfied  with  rhymed  versions,  yet  would  fain 
see  some  metrical  forms  attempted  which  they  think,  would 
approach  nearer  to  the  rhythmical  movement  of  the  origi- 
nals than  do  any  of  the  established  metres.  For  the  Latin 
hexameter,  it  is  suggested,  why  not  adopt  the  Knglish  hex- 
ameter? Without  wishing  to  enter  upon  this  much-debated 
hexameter  question,  I  would  merely  say  that  I  think  there 
are  serious  objections  to  the  use  of  this  metre  for  a  transla- 
tion of  the  ./Eneid,  or,  indeed,  for  any  long  epic  poem.  It 
is  easy  to  write  flowing  hexameters  of  a  certain  sort.  But, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  greater  advantage  the  Latin  has  in 
its  winged  and  airy  vowel-syllables,  the  trouble  is  to  find 
in  English  pure  spondaic  words  enough,  without  which  the 
lines  must  be  overloaded  with  dactyls;  the  result  being  an 
effect,  in  a  poem  of  any  length,  as  fatiguing  and  monoto- 
nous as  an  incessant  swing  or  canter.  This  metre  may  be 
used  with  success,  I  think,  in  a  brief  eclogue,  hardly  in  a 
lengthy  epic.  The  impression  conveyed  by  the  movement 
of  the  verse  in  English  must  differ  materially  from  that 
which  the  original  metre  conveyed  to  the  ancients,  —  else  it 
is  difficult  to  imagine  how  it  could  ever  have  become  with 
them  the  established  form  for  the  epic.  To  our  ears,  twelve 
long  books  of  modern  hexameters  could  hardly  fail  to  be  a 
portentous  affair.  For  myself,  I  can  seldom  read  more  than 
a    tew    pages    even    of    the    best    English    specimens    of    this 


vi  Preface. 

rhythm,  without  a  lurking  sense  of  something  like  verbal  pos- 
ing and  posturing  going  on,  which,  even  when  graceful,  has 
a  perpetual  tendency  to  the  constrained  and  artificial.  I  am 
quite  aware  of  the  fascination  there  is  in  the  composition 
of  these  quaint  and  trailing  six-footers.  But  in  spite  of  the 
Germans,  and  the  theories  and  experiments  of  a  few  poet- 
scholars,  I  cannot  but  think  that  the  hexameter  belongs 
exclusively  to  the  costume  of  the  antique  ages,  and  that  the 
less  the  epic  muse  has  to  do  with  it,  the  better.  Metres, 
like  spoken  languages,  become  obsolete  and  dead.  They 
may  or  may  not  be  revived.  But,  at  any  rate,  popular  and 
accepted  metres  are  growths,  and  not  transplantations  from 
a  remote  past. 

Besides,  the  difficulty  of  sustaining  to  the  end,  in  hex- 
ameter, a  poem  so  varied  in  thought  and  action  as  the  .ZEneid, 
is  a  consideration  which  might  well  make  the  most  gifted 
rhythmical  artist  shrink  from  the  task ;  a  task  tenfold 
greater,  if  it  be  a  main  object  with  him  to  keep  close  to 
the  literal  phrasing  of  the  text. 

In  choosing  the  form  of  blank  verse  in  this  translation, 
I  feel  as  if  I  had  better  obeyed  the  inferential  Scriptural 
suggestion  of  putting  old  wine  into  old  skins,  than  if  I  had 
tried  to  pump  it  into  any  such  antique  jars.  That  the  form 
I  have  chosen  is  comparatively  modern  is  no  objection.  It 
is  not  a  new,  nor  a  transplanted  form.  Blank  verse  is  a 
good  old  sound  English  growth,   long   ago  adopted,   and  glo- 


Preface.  vii 

riously  illumined  by  the  greatest  poets  in  our  language.  If 
it  is  deficient  in  movement,  it  must  be  the  fault  of  the 
writer,  not  of  the  verse.  I  cannot  think  of  a  form  more 
fitting  for  an  epic,  nor  one,  on  the  whole,  better  adapted  to 
I  worthy  rendering  of  the  sense  and  spirit  of  the  ./Eneid.  I 
could  not  help  feeling,  too,  while  engaged  in  my  task,  that 
the  Latin  lines  lend  themselves  to  the  very  requirements  of 
blank  verse,  in  the  fact  that  their  conciseness  so  often  obliges 
an  overlapping  of  one  translated  line  into  the  next,  and 
thus  favors  the  variation  of  the  pause,  which  in  this  metre 
is  so  essential  to  the  avoidance  of  monotony  and  the  sus- 
taining of  rhythmical  effect. 

I  have  not  troubled  myself  greatly  about  consulting  the 
various  English  translations  of  the  iEneid.  I  should  like 
to  have  compared  my  work  with  Dr.  Trapp's,  the  only 
blank-verse  version,  I  believe,  of  any  note;  but  have  not 
been  able  to  obtain  it.  Dryden's  and  Conington's  rhymed 
versions  are  the  only  two  with  which  I  have  much  acquaint- 
ance. The  Earl  of  Surrey's  version  of  the  second  and 
fourth  Books  I  have  only  glanced  at.  It  is  noticeable  as 
the  earliest  blank-verse  essay  in  our  literature.  While  some- 
what too  antiquated  in  style  for  the  present  day,  it  has, 
apparently,  the  merit  of  being  literal.  Thomas  Phaer,  in 
1558,  translated  seven  Books  of  the  TEneid  into  rhymed 
couplets,  of  fourteen-syllable  verse,  if  I  remember.  The 
remaining    Books    were    done    by    Thomas    Twine,    and    the 


viii  Preface. 

whole  was  published  in  1584.  It  is  as  obsolete  in  much  of 
its  phraseology  as  Surrey's ;  but  from  a  cursory  examina- 
tion, it  seems  to  be  better  than  its  fame.  Pitt's  version  I 
am  unacquainted  with.  It  is  spoken  of  as  very  tame,  and 
not  faithful.  Symmons's,  which,  like  Pitt's  and  Dryden's, 
is  in  heroic  rhyme,  I  have  known  only  in  parts,  and  since 
I  completed  my  own.  It  seems  more  faithful  than  Dry- 
den's ;  but  then  Symmons  was  not  a  poet,  and  Dryden  was, 
though  an  unequal  one.  Professor  Conington's,  in  the 
Scott's-Marmion  octosyllabic  metre,  is  ingenious,  frequently 
poetic,  and,  as  far  as  the  translator's  shackles  would  allow, 
faithful.  But  it  is  like  Virgil  in  short-hand.  Debarred  by 
the  frequently  recurring  rhyme  from  a  literal  rendering,  yet 
desirous  of  slurring  nothing,  he  merely  touches  and  suggests, 
where  he  should  linger;  and,  missing  the  graceful  sweep  of 
Virgil's  lines,  reads  too  much  like  a  sort  of  classical  Sir 
Walter. 

I  am  far  from  pretending  that  my  versification  may  not 
frequently  fail  to  convey  the  movement  of  the  Latin  lines 
to  the  ear  of  those  to  whom  they  are  familiar.  What  I 
have  aimed  at  has  been  to  render  simply  and  concisely,  with- 
out omission,  addition,  or  periphrasis,  and  at  the  same  time 
fluently,  keeping  in  mind  the  best  ideals  of  blank  verse. 
The  only  departure  made  from  this  metre  has  been  in  two 
brief  passages  where  it  seemed  to  me  the  answers  of  the  Or- 
acle in  pentameter  rhyme  might  make  an  agreeable  contrast. 


Preface,  ix 

The  addition  of  many  notes  would  have  too  much  encum- 
bered the  book,  besides  being  unnecessary  where  the  classical 
dictionary  is  accessible.  I  have  therefore  added  only  a  few, 
which  may  be  convenient  for  the  general  reader. 

I  have  followed  mainly  Professor  Anthon's  text,  and 
must  thank  him  for  what  benefit  I  have  derived  from  his 
valuable  notes  and  occasional  renderings.  I  may  be  some- 
what indebted,  too,  to  Davidson's  prose  translation,  with 
which  I  have  compared  portions  of  my  own.  And  I  wish, 
in  conclusion,  to  express  my  obligation  to  my  friend,  Pro- 
fessor James  Russell  Lowell,  for  many  good  criticisms  and 
suggestions  in  revising  my  manuscript. 

C.  P.  C. 

September ,    1872. 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK    I. 

Page 
Introduction:  Causes  of  Juno's  Hatred  of  the  Trojans,  lines  1-43.  —  Her 
Soliloquy,  and  Interview  with  iEolus,  44.  —  Who  sends  a  Tempest 
upon  the  Fleet  of  iEneas,  101.  —  Its  Result,  129.  —  Neptune  rebukes 
the  Winds,  and  calms  the  Seas,  157.  —  The  Trojans  gain  the  shores 
of  Lybia,  and  moor  their  Ships  in  a  safe  Harbor,  199.  —  JEneas  kills 
seven  Stags,  one  for  each  Ship,  233. — He  consoles  his  Companions, 
250.  —  They  feast  on  the  Shore,  270.  —  Colloquy  in  the  Heavens 
between  Jupiter  and  Venus,  concerning  iEneas  and  the  future  Destinies 
of  his  Race,  285.  —  Mercury  sent  down  to  dispose  the  Carthaginians 
favorably  toward  the  Trojans,  387.  —  iEneas's  Meeting  with  his  Mother, 
Venus,  410.  —  She  gives  him  an  Outline  of  Dido's  History,  445. — 
Foretells  the  Recovery  of  his  lost  Ships  and  Comrades,  and  directs  him 
toward  Carthage,  505.  —  He  recognizes  his  Mother  as  she  leaves  him, 
524.  —  His  Entrance  into  the  City,  544.  —  Description  of  the  Pictures 
of  the  Trojan  Battles  on  the  Temple  Walls,  589.  —  Entrance  of  Dido, 
640.  —  And  of  his  missing  Friends,  661.  —  Speech  of  Ilioneus,  and 
Dido's  Reply,  676.  —  JEneas  reveals  himself  to  the  Queen,  764. — 
His  Speech,  and  her  Reply,  775.  —  Her  Hospitality,  821.  —  iEneas's 
Gifts  to  her,  837.  —  Venus's  Plan  to  inflame  her  Heart  with  Love  to 
./Eneas,  855.  —  The  Banquet  in  the  Royal  Palace,  912.  —  Dido  requests 
iEneas  to  relate  his  Adventures,  986.  ......        I 


BOOK    II. 

iEneas  begins  his  Narration:  The  Wooden  Horse,  lines  1-79.  —  Sinon 
brought  before  the  Trojans,  80. — -He  begins  his  false  Story,  105. — 
The  fate  of  Laocoon  and  his  two  Sons,  282.  —  The  Wooden  Horse 
is  carried  into  Troy,  323.  — Hector  appears  in  a  Dream  to  iEneas, 
371.  —  iEneas  relates  the  Destruction  of  Troy,  412. — He  and   his 


xii  Contents. 


Companions  attempt  to  defend  the  City,  464.  —  Their  Adventures, 
508.  —  The  Fate  of  Priam's  Palace,  598.  —  Assaulted  by  Pyrrhus,  641. 
—  Who  murders  Polites  and  Priam,  716.  —  ./Eneas  sees  Helen,  and 
deliberates  whether  he  shall  slay  her,  770.  —  Is  restrained  by  the 
Appearance  and  Counsel  of  Venus,  800.  —  Troy  in  Flames,  842. — 
He  reaches  his  Father's  House  :  Anchises  refuses  to  escape  from  Troy, 
856.  —  But  changes  his  Resolution  upon  witnessing  two  marvellous 
Omens,  920.  —  The  Escape,  953.  —  Creusa's  Fate,  992.  —  ./Eneas 
searches  for  her  through  the  City,  101 1.  —  Her  Shade  appears  to  him, 
1039.  —  He  finds  a  crowd  of  Trojans  prepared  to  accompany  him, 
1072.  —  He  bears  away  his  Father,  1084.  .....     44 


BOOK    III. 


./Eneas  continues  his  Narrative,  lines  1-6.  —  Builds  a  Fleet,  and  sails  for 
Thrace,  7.  —  The  Tomb  of  Polydore,  26.  —  Sails  for  Ortygia,  87. — 
Consults  the  Oracle  of  Apollo,  106.  —  The  Answer,  121.  —  The  Tro- 
jans determine  to  sail  for  Crete,  133.  —  111  Fortune  of  the  Trojans  in 
this  Island,  181. —  He  is  directed  by  his  Household  Gods  to  sail  for 
Italy,  195.  —  His  Stormy  Voyage,  251.  —  Lands  on  an  Island  of  the 
Strophades,  270.  —  His  Adventures  with  the  Harpies,  283.  —  He  puts 
to  Sea  again,  341.  —  And  lands  at  Actium,  355.  —  Thence  to  Chaonia, 
where  he  meets  with  Andromache  and  Helenus,  376.  —  ./Eneas  asks 
and  obtains  the  Prophetic  Knowledge  of  Helenus,  and  his  Counsel 
concerning  his  Voyage,  459.  —  Helenus's  Description  of  Scylla  and 
Charybdis,  533.  —  His  Advice  concerning  the  Cumrean  Sibyl,  561. — 
The  Parting,  612.  —  The  Trojans  sail  direct  for  Italy,  643.  —  Which 
they  descry  in  the  early  Morning,  663.  —  They  land  and  sacrifice  to 
j  Juno,  690.  —  Scylla  and  Charybdis,  706.  —  Description  of  Mount 
./Etna,  721.  —  Achemenides,  742.  —  His  Story  of  himself  and  of  the 
Cyclops,  769.  —  Appearance  of  the  Cyclops,  821.  —  The  Trojans 
escape,  and  continue  their  Voyage,  833. —  They  sail  around  Sicily, 
and  land  at  Drepanum,  859.  —  Death  of  Anchises,  885.  —  Conclusion 
of  ./Eneas's  Narrative,  895.       .  .  .  .         .         .         .  '9* 


BOOK    IV. 

Dido  loves  iEneas,  and  confesses  her  Passion  to  her  Sister,  lines  I  —  38.  — 
Who  encourages  it,  39.  —  They  sacrifice  at  the  Altars,    73.  —  The 


Contents.  xi  li 


Queen'l    Pusion   described,   86. — Juno's   Interview   with    Venus,  and 
Plan  concerning  JEneti  aiul  Dido,  1 19,      Description  of  Dido  and  of 

vKiK-.i-.,  going   forth   to   hunt,    170.  —  A   Sturm   sent   by  Juno,    209. — 
iEncas  and   Dido  take   refuge  in  a   Cave,  where  the  God.:  ions 

their  Marriage,  215.  —  Description  of  Rumor,  226. —  King  Iari  , 
258.  —  Mercury  sent  to  command  /Eneas  to  leave  Carthage,  313. — 
His  Message  to  /Eneas,  347.  —  Its  Effect  upon  him,  361. —  He  pre- 
pares to  leave  with  his  Fleet,  371.-  Effect  of  the  Rumor  of  his 
Departure  upon  Dido,  382.  —  Her  Interview  with  ./Eneas,  and  1' 
sionate  Appeal  to  him,  394.  —  His  Justification  of  his  Course,  435. — 
Her  bitter  Replv,  4^4.  —  Preparation  of  the  Trojans  for  Departure, 
52 v  —  Its  Effect  upon  Dido,  540.  —  Her  vain  Attempts  to  delay  it, 
578.  —  Her  Grief  and  Desperation,  594.  —  Conceals  her  fatal  Reso- 
lution from  her  Sister,  626.  —  The  Funeral  Pile,  669.  —  Description 
of  Night,  693.  —  Dido's  Agitation:  her  Soliloquy,  701. —  Mercury 
again  warns  ./Eneas  to  leave,  736.  —  He  prepares  to  obey,  755. — 
Dido's  Passionate  Soliloquy  when  seeing  his  Fleet  departing,  771. — 
Her  last  Words  and  Death,  853.  —  Her  Sister's  Grief,  879.  —  Iris 
frees  the  struggling  Soul,  709.  .  .         .         .         .         .  .130 


BOOK    V. 

jEneas,  sailing  from  Carthage,  sees  the  Flames  of  Dido's  Funeral  Pile,  lines 
3-8.  —  He  is  forced  by  stormy  weather  to  make  for  Sicily^g.  —  Wel- 
comed by  King  Acestes,  43.  —  ^Encas  proclaims  an  Anniversary  Festival, 
57.  —  He  sacrifices  at  Anchises's  Tomb,  95.  —  The  Anniversary,  130. 

—  The  Celebration  commences  with  a  Race  between  four  Galleys,  141. 

—  The  Contest  described,  173.  —  Prizes  conferred,  293.  —  A  Foot- 
race, and  the  Prizes  awarded,  344.  —  A  Combat  with  the  Cestus,  431. 

—  Described,  506.  —  A   Contest  in  Archery,  576.  —  An  Omen,  612. 

—  Ascanius's  youthful  Cavalry,  638.  —  Iris,  sent  by  Juno,  instigates  the 
Trojan  Women  to   burn  their  Ships,  708.  —  ^Eneas's  Prayer,  813. — 

*^<A11  the  Ships,  save  Four,  are  saved,  828^ — The  Advice  of  Nautes,  834. 

—  Anchises  appears  to  /Eneas  in  a  Vision:  he  bids  him  follow  that 
Advice,  855.  —  ./Eneas  adopts  the  Plan  proposed,  887.  —  He  founds  a 
Town  for  those  left  behind,  898.  —  The  Grief  of  Separation,  912. — 
iEneas  puts  to  Sea,  922.  —  Venus  solicits  the  Aid  of  Neptune  for  the 
Trojans,  928.  —  Which  is  promised,  953.  —  The  Voyage,  987.  — 
The  Fate  of  Palinurus,  996 .         .         .   171 


xiv  Contents. 


BOOK    VI. 

iEneas  arrives  in  Italy,  lines  I  -  3. » —  He  visits  the  Temple  of  Apollo  and 
Diana  at  Cumae,  in  order  to  consult  the  Sibyl,  9.  —  The  Sculptures  of 
the  Temple  described,  24. —  The  Sibyl's  Commands  to  iEneas,  56. — 
His  Prayer  to  Apollo,  69. —  The  Oracle,  106.  —  ./Eneas  entreats  Per- 
mission to  visit  his  Father  in  the  Lower  World,  135.  —  The  Sibyl's 
Reply,  160.  —  He  returns  to  his  Fleet,  200.  —  The  Fate  of  Misenus, 
207.  —  His  Funeral  Pile,  225. —  ./Eneas  seeks  and  finds  the  Golden 
Bough,  240.  —  The  Funeral  Obsequies  of  Misenus,  265.  —  The  Sacri- 
fices at  the  Entrance  of  the  Lower  World,  292.  —  He  enters  with  the 
Sibyl,  324.  —  Invocation,  325.  —  Description  of  the  Entrance,  331. — 
And  of  the  Phantoms,  as  they  proceed,  347. —  Charon:  the  Ghosts 
of  the  Unburied,  367.  —  Of  Palinurus,  411.  —  Confronted  by  Charon, 
who  yields,  470.  — Cerberus,  512.  —  The  Souls  of  Infants;  of  those 
falsely  Accused;  of  Suicides,  526.  —  The  Fields  of  Mourning,  544.- — 
./Eneas  meets  the  Shade  of  Dido,  556.  —  The  Region  of  the  Warriors, 
590.  —  Deiphobus,  his  Story,  612.  —  Tartarus,  and  its  Punishments, 
680.  —  The  Elysian  Fields,  794.  —  Anchises's  Meeting  with  ./Eneas, 
845.  —  His  Philosophy  of  Spirits  and  Life,  904.  —  He  shows  ./Eneas 
the  Shades  of  his  unborn  Descendants,  and  their  Glories,  944.  — 
Marcellus,  1082.  —  ./Eneas  leaves  the  Lower  Regions,  and  joins  his 
Fleet,  1134. 216 


BOOK    VII. 

./Eneas  sails  from  Caieta,  lines  6-9.  —  Passes  the  Land  of  Circe,  1 2.  — Enters 
the  Tiber,  45.  —  Invocation  to  the  Muse,  46. —  King  Latinus,  Turnus, 
and  Lavinia,  57.  —  An  Omen,  80.  —  Latinus  consults  the  Oracle  of 
Faunus,  99.  —  His  Answer,  117.  —  The  Trojans  on  Shore,  130. — 
iEneas's  sends  Envoys  to  Latinus,  and  builds  a  Fort,  186.  —  Arrival 
of  the  Envoys  at  Laurentum,  197. —  Description  of  the  Temple,  210. 
—  The  King's  Interview  with  the  Envoys,  240.  —  The  Address  of 
Ilioneus,  267.  —  Reply  of  Latinus,  324.  —  His  Gifts,  344.  —  Soliloquy 
of  Juno  respecting  the  Trojans,  366.  —  She  summons  Allecto  to  aid 
her  Designs,  405.  —  The  Fury  visits  Queen  Amata,  430.  —  The  Queen's 
Appeal  to  her  Husband  concerning  Lavinia,  452.  —  Her  Excitement 
and  strange  Conduct,  473.  —  Allecto  inflames  Turnus  against  the  Tro- 
jans, 513.  —  Her  Arts  to  involve  the  Trojans  in  War,  595.  —  Tyr- 


Contents.  xv 


rheus's  Stag,  606.  —  Battle  of  the  Trojans  and  Peasants,  647.  —  Inter- 
view between  Allecto  and  Juno,  671.  —  The  Fury  disappears,  699. — 

Warlike  Commotion  in  Laurcntum,  708.  —  Juno  opens  the  Gates  of 
War,  745.  —  Ausonia  roused  to  Arms,  77  I. —  Invocation  to  the  Muses, 
792.  —  Names  and  Description  of  the  Chiefs  arrayed  against  the  Tro- 
jann,  800.  —  The  Amazon,  Camilla,  988.  .....    265 


BOOK    VIII. 

All  Latium  aroused  to  War,  lines  1  —  5.  —  Venulus  sent  to  Diomcd's  City 
for  Aid,  10.  —  The  River-god  Tiberinus  appears  in  a  Vision  to  JEncas, 
32. —  And  encourages  and  directs  him,  44.  —  He  sails  up  the  Tiber, 
107. —  Arrives  in  the  Kingdom  of  Evander,  126.  —  His  Reception, 
140.  --  Interview  with  the  King,  I  58. —  Evander  tells  the  Story  of 
Cacus  and  Hercules,  and  explains  the  Origin  of  the  Rites  he  is  cele- 
brating, 228.  —  Description  of  these  Rites,  339.  —  ./Eneas  accompanies 
Evander  to  his  City,  Pallanteum,  373.  —  His  Discourse  by  the  Way, 
382.  —  Venus  asks  Vulcan  to  forge  Armor  for  ^Eneas,  451.  —  He 
consents,  481.  —  The  Cyclopean  Forges,  505.  —  The  Morning  Inter- 
view between  Evander  and  vEneas,  548.  —  ^Encas  is  made  Leader  of 
the  Arcadian  and  Tuscan  Forces,  617. —  Venus  gives  a  Sign  from  the 
Skv,  626. —  Evander's  Parting  with  his  Son  Pallas,  674.  —  Departure 
of  the  Troops,  701.  —  Venus  brings  the  Armor  to  iEneas,  727.  —  De- 
scription of  iEneas's  Shield,  746.       .......   309 


BOOK    IX. 

Juno  sends  Iris  to  induce  Turnus  to  attack  the  Trojans  in  ^Eneas's  Absence, 
lines  1-30.  —  He  marches,  31.  —  The  Trojans  fly  to  defend  their 
Ramparts,  45.  —  Turnus  undertakes  to  burn  their  Fleet,  81.  —  The 
Story  of  Cybele  and  the  Consecrated  Pines,  94.  —  The  Ships  escape, 
and  are  turned  into  Sea-nymphs,  144.  —  Speech  of  Turnus,  156. — 
Preparations  of  the  Rutulians,  199.  —  The  Story  of  Nisus  and  Euryalus, 
219.  —  Volscens  and  his  Troop,  456. —  Tragic  Conclusion,  520. — 
The  Mother  of  Euryalus,  583.  —  Battle  between  the  Rutuli  and  Tro- 
jans, 619.  —  First  Martial  Exploit  of  Ascanius,  725.  —  Encouraged  by 
Apollo,  786.  —  Battle  continued,  8}>r—  Havoc  made  by  Turnus  within 
the  Trojan  Gates,  882.  —  The  Trojans  rally,  960.  —  Turnus  com- 
pelled to  leap  into  the  River,  1003.  —  He  escapes,  1010.     .  .  .    347 


xvi  Contents. 


book  x. 

Council  of  the  Gods:  Speeches  of  Jupiter,  Venus,  and  Juno  upon  the  War, 
lines  1-8.  —  The  Decision  of  Jupiter,  141.  —  Continuation  of  the 
Battle,  167. —  ./Eneas  returns  toward  his  Camp,  201. —  Description  of 
the  Heroes  and  Ships  attending  ./Eneas,  229.  —  He  meets  his  Ships  in 
the  Forms  of  Sea-nymphs,  300.  —  He  lands  his  Forces,  383.  —  And 
engages  in  the  Battle,  409. —  Its  Events,  412. —  Bravery  of  Pallas,  472. 

—  His  Combat  with  Turnus,  576.  —  And  Death,  643.  —  Deaths  dealt 
by  ./Eneas,  688. — Jove's  Colloquy  with  Juno  respecting  the  War,  795. 

—  Juno's  Expedient  to  save  Turnus,  832.  —  How  he  is  borne  off,  857. 

—  His  Reflections  on  his  forced  Flight,  875.  —  Mezentius  takes  the 
Field:  his  Havoc,  901. —  Battle  even  on  both  Sides,  988.  —  Mezentius's 
Meeting  with  ./Eneas,  997.  —  His  Life  saved  by  his  Son  Lausus,  1038. 

—  Mezentius  withdraws,  1045.  —  ./Eneas  fights  singly  against  his  Foes, 
1050. —  He  slays  Lausus  in  Combat,  1066.  —  Mezentius  and  his  Son, 
1 1 00.  —  His  Grief  and  Remorse,  11 06.  —  He  takes  the  Field  again, 
1 1  20.  —  Rhcebus,  his  Horse,  1 1  26.  —  Fights  with  ./Eneas,  1153. — 
His  Dying  Words,  11 78 391 


BOOK    XI. 

./Eneas  erects  a  Trophy  with  the  Armor  of  Mezentius,  lines  7  -  29.  — 
Prepares  to  bury  his  Dead,  30.  —  Pallas  upon  his  Bier,  48.  —  ./Eneas's 
Lamentation,  55.  —  The  Body  of  Pallas  is  borne  to  Pallanteum,  78. — ■ 
The  Procession,  120.  —  Ambassadors  come  from  King  Latinus,  suing 
for  Peace,  and  Leave^to  bury  their  Dead,  129.  —  Reply  of  ./Eneas,  139. 
—  Drances,  160. —  A  Twelve  Days'  Truce  agreed  upon,  175.  —  Evan- 
der  hears  of  his  Son's  Death,  183.  —  His  Grief,  195.  —  The  Trojans 
and  Tuscans  build  their  Funeral  Piles,  246.  —  Also  the  Latins,  271. — 

»  Return  of  the  Ambassadors  from  Diomed's  City,  who  report  their 
Failure  to  procure  Aid,  299.  —  Latinus  summons  his  Council,  312. — 
What  Diomed  said  to  the  Ambassadors,  336.  —  Speech  of  King  Latinus, 
402.  —  His  Plan  regarding  the  Trojans,  420.  —  Speech  of  Drances, 
445.  —  Turnus's  Reply,  500.  —  He  counsels  War,  543.  —  ./Eneas  ap- 
proaches the  City,  592.  —  Warlike  Preparations  of  Turnus,  611. — 
He  meets  Camilla,  656.  —  Result  of  the  Interview,  676.  —  Diana 
relates  to  Opis  the  Storv  of  Metabus  and  Camilla,  699.  —  And  charges 
the  Nymph  to  avenge   her  Death,   772.  —  Battle  and   Carnage,   798. 


C 0)1  foils.  xvii 


—  Camilla's  warlike  Feats,  S44. —  Tarclion,  938. —  Aruns,  979. — 
Death  of  Camilla,  1019. — -Aruns  slain  by  the  Nymph  Opis,  1067. — 
The  Defeat  of  the  Rutuli,  1105.  —  Arrival  of  ./Eneas,  1145.  .  .  443 


BOOK    XII. 

Turnus  is  bent  upon  a  single  Combat  between  himself  and  jEncas,  lines 
1-12.  —  His  Address  to  Latinus,  and  the  King's  Reply,  13.  —  His 
Interview  with  the  Queen  Amata,  75.  —  He  prepares  for  the  Combat, 
111. — -  ./Eneas  docs  the  Same,  141. — Juno's  Interview  with  Juturna, 
i~;.  —  Latinus  and  .<Eneas  confirm  the  League  between  them,  207. — 
Juturna's  Plan  to  break  the  League,  288.  —  Its  Success,  319.  —  Tolum- 
nius,  331.  —  The  Battle  again  begins,  345.  —  Its  Events,  362.  —  iEneas 
attempts  to  stay  the  Strife,  398.  —  He  is  wounded,  407.  —  The  terrible 
Deeds  of  Turnus  in  the  Battle,  419.  —  lapis,  with  Venus's  aid,  ex- 
tracts the  Arrow  from  jEneas's  Wound,  500.  —  He  takes  the  Field 
again,  with  his  Troops,  and  fills  his  Foes  with  Terror,  550.  —  Juturna 
assumes  Command  of  Turnus's  Chariot,  600.  —  iEncas  pursues  his  Foe 
in  vain,  615.  —  His  Crest  struck  off  by  Messapus,  624.  —  The  Havoc 
on  both  sides,  639.  —  ^Eneas  determines  to  attack  the  City  of  Lauren- 
turn,  702.  —  Fate  of  the  Queen  Amata,  754.  —  Turnus  at  a  distance  is 
apprised  of  the  Attack  on  the  Town,  778. —  His  Address  to  his  Sister, 
799.  —  A  Messenger  to  him,  824.  —  He  returns,  and  stops  the  Battle 
by  renewing  the  Proposal  for  the  single  Combat,  865.  —  ./Eneas  comes 
forward,  885.  —  The  Combat  begins,  901.  —  The  Events  by  which  it  is 
interrupted,  925.  —  Colloquy  of  Jupiter  and  Juno,  which  ends  in  Juno 
relinquishing  her  Persecutions  of  the  Trojans,  iooj-j — Jupiter  sends 
down  a  Furv  to  terrify  Juturna  and  Turnus  :  Its  Effect,  1068.  —  Jutur- 
na's touching  Soliloquy,  1 100.  —  She  Flies  in  despair,  1 1  20.  —  The 
Combat:  Turnus  wounded,  1 166.  —  His  Petition  to  ^Eneas,  1172. — 
His  Death,  1200.    ..........  493 


THE    ^NEID. 


BOOK  I. 

SIXG  of  arms,  and  of  the  man  who  first 

Came  from  the  coasts  of  Troy  to  Italy 
And  the  Lavinian  shores,  exiled  by  fate. 
Much  was  he  tossed  about  upon  the  lands 
And  on  the  ocean  by  supernal  powers,  5 

Because  of  cruel  Juno's  sleepless  wrath. 
Many  things  also  suffered  he  in  war, 
Until  he  built  a  city,  and  his  gods 
Brought  into  Latium  ;  whence  the  Latin  race, 
The  Alban  sires,  and  walls  of  lofty  Rome.  10 

O  Muse,  the  causes  tell,  for  what  affront, 

And  why  incensed,  the  queen  of  gods  compelled 

A  hero  for  his  piety  renowned 

To  undergo  such  sufferings  and  such  toils. 

Is  there  such  anger  in  celestial  minds?  is 


2  The  Mneid. 

There  was  an  ancient  city,  Carthage,  held 
By  Tyrian  settlers,  facing  from  afar 
Italia,  and  the  distant  Tiber's  mouth  f    . 
Rich  in  resources,  fierce  in  war's  pursuits:. 
And  this  one  city,  Juno,  it  was  said, 
Far  more  than  every  other  land  esteemed, 
Samos  itself  being  less.     Here  were  her  arms, 
Her  chariot  here ;  e'en  then  the  goddess  strives 
With  earnest  hope  to  found  a  kingdom  here 
Of  universal  sway,  should  fate  permit. 
(But  of  a  race  derived  from  Trojan  blood 
She  had  heard,  who  would  o'erturn  the  Tyrian  towers 
One  day,  and  that  a  people  of  wide  rule, 
And  proud  in  war,  descended  thence,  would  come 
For  Lybia's  doom.     So  did  the  Fates  decree.^ 
ThiTfearing,  mindful  of  the  former  war 
She  had  led  at  Troy  for  her  beloved  Greeks, 
The  causes  of  her  ire  and  cruel  griefs 
Saturnia  had  not  forgot,  but  still 

Remembered,  hoarded  in  her  deepest  thought,  ss 

The  judgment  given  by  Paris,  and  the  affront  | 

Of  beauty  scorned,  — the  hated  Trojan  race, 
And  honors  granted  to  rapt  Ganymede. 
Inflamed  by  these,  she  drove  from  Latium  far 


Book  i. 

The  Trojan  remnant  that  escaped  the  Greeks, 
And  tierce  Achilles;   and  for  many  years 
They  wandered,  driven  by  fate,  round  all  the  seas. 
Such  ta.sk  it  was  to  found  the  Roman  state. 

Scarce  out  of  sight  of  Sicily,  they  spread 

Their  sails  with  joyous  hearts,  and  o'er  the  sea  45 

With  brazen  prows  were  plunging  through  the  foam, 

When   Juno,  the  eternal  wound  still  fresh 

Within  her  breast,  thus  with  herself  communed:  — 

"  Shall  I  who  have  begun  desist,  o'ercome, 

Nor  avert  from  Italy  this  Trojan  king?  so 

The  Fates  forbid,  forsooth  !     Shall  Pallas  burn 

The  fleet  of  the  Greeks,  and  drown  them  in  the  sea, 

All  for  the  crime  and  furious  lust  of  one, — 

Ajax,  Oileus'  son  ?     She  from  the  clouds 

Snatched  the  swift  fire  of  Jove,  and  hurling,  smote  ss 

The  ships,  and  scattered  them,  and  upturned  all 

The  sea  with  winds  ;-*n^him,  by  whirlwinds  seized, 

And  breathing  rlames  from  his  transfixed  breast, 

On  a  sharp  rock  impaled.     But  I,  who  move 

Queen  of  the  gods,  Jove's  sister  and  his  spouse, 

So  many  years  with  one  sole  race  wage  war. 

And  who  henceforth  will  worship  Juno's  power, 

Or  suppliant  at  her  altars  lay  his  gifts?" 


The  Aineid. 


Such  things  revolving  in  her  flaming  heart, 

Unto  iEolia,  region  of  the  clouds,  6S 

Places  that  teemed  with  furious  winds,  she  came. 

Here,  in  a  cavern  vast,  King  iEolus 

Over  the  struggling  winds  and  sounding  storms 

His  empire  holds,  and  binds  them  fast  in  chains. 

They,  chafing,  with  great  mountain  murmurs  roar  7° 

Around  their  cloisters.      On  his  lofty  seat 

Sits  iEolus,  with  sceptre,  and  their  wrath 

Assuages,  and  their  fury  moderates. 

Else  would  they  bear  away,  with  rapid  force, 

Sea,  earth,  and  heaven,  and  sweep  them  through  the  air.  75 


But  the  omnipotent  father,  fearing  this, 

Hid  them  in  gloomy  caves,  and  o'er  them  set 

The  mass  of  lofty  mountains ;  and  a  king 

Gave  them,  who,  by  a  compact  sure,  might  know 

When  to  restrain  and  when  to  loose  the  reins. 

To  him  then,  suppliant,  Juno  spake  these  words  : 

"  O  iEolus,  I  know  that  unto  thee, 


80 


The  father  of  the  gods  and  king  of  men 
Grants  to  assuage  and  lift  with  winds  the  waves. 
A  race  now  sails  upon  the  Tyrrhene  Sea 
Hostile  to  me,  —  Ilium  to  Italy 
Transporting,  and  their  conquered  household  gods. 


Book  i. 


5 


Strike  force  into  thy  winds,  and  sink  their  ships, 

Or  drive  them  wide  asunder,  and  the  waves 

Strew  with  their  corpses.     Twice  seven  nymphs  are  mine  ; 

The  fairest,  Deiopea,  will  I  give  m 

To  thee  in  wedlock  hrm,  to  be  thine  own, 

And,  for  such  service,  pass  her  years  with  thee, 

And  make  thee  father  of  a  lovely  race." 


./Eolus  answered:   "Thine,  O  queen,  whate'er 
Thou  choosest  to  require  ;   't  is  mine  to  obey. 
Thou  givest  me  whatever  sovereignty 
I  hold,  —  my  sceptre,  and  the  favor  of  Jove, 

And  to  recline  at  banquets  of  the  gods, 

And  all  the  power  I  hold  o'er  clouds  and  storms." 


95 


Thus  having  said,  with  his  inverted  spear 

Pie  smote  the  hollow  mountain  on  the  side. 

Then  forth  the  winds,  like  some  great  marching  host, 

Vent  being  given,  rush  turbulent,  and  blow 

In  whirling  storm  abroad  upon  the  lands:     \ 

Down  pressing  on  the  sea  from  lowest  depths 

Upturned,  Eurus  and  Notus  all  in  one 

Blowing,  and  Africus  with  rainy  squalls, 

1  tense  on  the  vast  waves  rolling  to  the  shore. 


io5 


*» 


6  The   Aineid. 

Then  follow  clamoring  shouts  of  men,  and  noise  no 

Of  whistling  cordage.     On  a  sudden,  clouds 

Snatch  from  the  Trojans  all  the  light  of  day 

And  the  great  sky.     Black  night  lies  on  the  sea. 

The  thunder  rolls,  the  incessant  lightnings  flash ; 

And  to  the  crews  all  bodes  a  present  death.  115 

/Eneas'  limbs  relax  with  sudden  cold ; 

Groaning,  his  hands  he  stretches  to  the  stars. 

"  O,  thrice  and  four  times  happy  they,"  he  cries, 

"  To  whom  befell  beneath  Troy's  lofty  walls  •" 

To  encounter  death  before  their  fathers'  eyes !  120 

O  Diomed,  thou  bravest  of  the  Greeks, 

Why  could  I  not  have  fallen  on  Ilium's  fields, 

Pouring  my  warm  life  out  beneath  thy  hand  ?  — 

Where  valiant  Hector  lies,  by  Achilles'  spear 

Slain,  and  where  tall  Sarpedon  was  o'erthrown,  —  12s 

Where  Simoi's  rolls  along,  bearing  away 

Beneath  his  waves  so  many  shields  and  casques, 

So  many  corpses  of  brave  heroes  slain ! " 

Thus  while  he  cried  aloud,  a  roaring  blast 
From  out  the  north  strikes  full  against  the  sails,  j;q 

And  the  waves  touch  the  stars ;   the  oars  are  snapped  ; 
The  ship  swings  round,  and  gives  to  the  waves  its  side. 


Book   i. 

\    tCCp  And  watery  mountain  rolls  apace: 
Some  on  its  summit  hang;   and  some  beneath 
Heboid  tbe  earth  between  the  yawning  waves:  135 

Mingled  with  sand  the  boiling  waters  hiss. 
On  hidden  rocks  three  ships  the  south-wind  hurls, — : 
Rocks  by  the  Italian  sailors  Altars  called; 
A  vast  ridge  on  a  level  with  the  sea. 

Three  others  by  the  east-wind  from  the  deep  ho 

Aredriven  upon  the  quicksands  and  the  shoals, — 
Dreadful  to  see,  —  upon  the  shallows  dashed, 
And  girt  around  by  drifting  heaps  of  sand. 
'  Orrev  that  conveyed  the  Lycians,  and  that  bore 
Faithful  Orontes,  there,  before  his  eyes,  145 

A  huge  sea  from  above  strikes  on  the  stern, 
Dashing  the  pilot  headlong  on  the  waves. 
Three. times  the  surges  whirl  the  ship  around, 
In  the  swift  vortex  of  the  sea  ingulfed  ; 
Then  scattered  swimmers  in  the  vast  abyss  150 

Are  seen,  and  arms,  and  planks,  and  Trojan  spoils. 
Now  the  strong  ship  of  Ilioneus,  now 
Of  brave  Achates,  and  the  barks  that  bore 
Abas,  and  old  Aletes,  are  o'erwhelmed, 
And  all  their  yawning  sides  with  loosened  joints  155 

Drink  in  the  bitter  drench. 


8  The  Alneid. 

Meanwhile,  below, 
Neptune  was  conscious  of  the  sea  disturbed 
With  loud  uproar,  and  of  the  tempest  sent, 
And  the  calm  deeps  convulsed.     Profoundly  moved, 
He  gazes  up,  and  lifts  his  placid  head  160 

Above  the  waves ;  /Eneas'  scattered  fleet 
O'er  all  the  ocean  sees;  the  Trojan  hosts 
Oppressed  with  waves  and  the  down-rushing  sky. 
And  not  to  Juno's  brother  were  unknown 
Her  arts  and  anger.     Then  to  him  he  calls  165 

Eurus  and  Zephyrus,  and  thus  he  speaks :  — 
"  Can  such  reliance  on  your  birth  be  yours, 
O  Winds,  that  now,  without  authority 
Of  mine,  ye  dare  to  mingle  heaven  and  earth 
In  discord,  and  such  mountain  waves  upraise  ?  170 

Whom  I  —     But  best  allay  these  angry  seas. 
Not  thus  shall  ye  escape  your  next  offence. 
Away  !  —  say  this  unto  your  king  :  Not  his 
The  empire  of  the  seas,  the  trident  stern, 
But  given  to  me,  by  fate.     The  savage  rocks  17s 

He  holds,  O  Eurus,  your  abiding-place. 
Let  /Eolus  boast  his  power  within  those  halls, 
And  reign  in  the  pent  prison  of  the  winds !  " 


Book  l  9 

So  spake  the  god  :   and  swifter  than  his  speech 

He  smooths  the  swelling  waves,  the  gathered  clouds       i8a 

Disperses,  and  the  sunshine  brings  again. 

With  him  Cymothoe  and  Triton  bend 

With  all  their  force,  and  from  the  jagged  rocks 

Push  off  the  ships :   with  trident  he  himself 

I* pheaves  them,  and  lays  open  the  vast  shoals,  185 

And  smooths  the  deep,  as  with  light  wheels  he  glides 

Along  the  surface  of  the  waves.     As  when 

Sedition  rises  in  a  multitude, 

And  the  base  mob  is  raging  with  fierce  minds, 

And  stones  and  firebrands  fly,  and  fury  lends  190 

Arms  to  the  populace,  —  then  should  some  man 

Oi   reverence  and  of  worth  appear,  they  stand 

Silent,  and  listen  with  attentive  ears : 

He    rules    their     minds    with    words,    and     calms    their 

breasts : 
So  all  the  clamor  of  the  sea  subsides,  195 

When,  looking  forth,  the  father,  borne  along 
Beneath  the  open  sky,  directs  his  steeds, 
And  flying,  to  his  swift  car  gives  the  reins. 


The  weary  Trojans  aim  to  reach  the  shores 
That  nearest  lie,  and  turn  to  the  Lvbian  coasts. 


io  The  Aineid. 

Within  a  deep  recess  there  is  a  place 

Where  with  its  jutting  sides  an  island  forms- 

A  port,  by  which  the  rolling  ocean  waves 

Are  broken,  and  divide  in  lesser  curves. 

On  either  side  vast  rocks  and  twin-like  cliffs  205 

Threaten  the  sky  ;  beneath  whose  towering  tops 

The  sea  lies  safe  and  tranquil  all  around. 

Above,  a  wall,  with  trembling  foliage  stands, 

O'ershadowed  by  a  dark  and  gloomy  grove; 

And  underneath  the  opposing  front,  a  cave  210 

Amid  the  hanging  cliffs  is  seen.     Within 

Are  pleasant  springs,  and  seats  of  natural  rock, 

A  dwelling  for  the  nymphs.     No  cable  here, 

Nor  any  anchor  holds  with  crooked  fluke 

The  weary  ships.     Hither  iEneas  brings  215 

Seven  of  the  ships  collected  from  his  fleet. 

And  here,  with  a  great  longing  for  the  land, 

The  Trojans  disembark,  and  gain  the  beach 

Desired ;  and  drenched  and  dripping  with  the  brine, 

They  stretch  their  weary  limbs  upon  the  shore.  220 

And  first,  with  flint,  Achates  struck  a  spark, 

And  caught  the  fire  in  leaves ;  and  round  about 

Dry  fuel  piled,  and  swiftly  fanned  the  flame. 

They  bring  forth  then  their  corn,  by  water  spoiled, 


Book   L  I  I 

Ami  implements  of  Ceres,  —  with  their  toils 
Exhausted,  —  ami  prepare  to  scorch  with  fire 
Their  rescued  grain,  ami  break  it  with  a  stone. 

Meanwhile  .Tneas  climbs  upon  a  cliff, 

nd  far  out  on  the  ocean  strains  his  eyes, 
It  any  one  like  Antheus  he  may  espy,  »3° 

I    ssed  by  the  wind  in  any  Phrygian  bark; 
Or  Capys,  or  Calous,  with  his  arms 

i  the  stern.     No  sail  in  sight.     Three  stags 
I   .   m  the  shore,  straying  about,  he  sees; 
And  following  these  the  whole  herd  comes  behind,        *ss 
And  browses  all  along  the  valleys.     Here 
He  stopped  and  seized  his  bow  and  arrows  swift, 
Which  arms  the  trust  v  Achates  bore.     And  first 
The  leaders  he  strikes  down,  their  lofty  heads 
With  branching  antlers  crowned;   and  next  he  smites     =4° 
The  vulgar  herd,  and  drives  them  with  his  darts, 
Mixed  in  confusion  through  the  leafy  woods. 
Nor  does  the  victor  stop  till  he  has  felled 
Seven  huge  beasts,  the  number  of  his  ship^; 
Then  to  the  port  returning,  parts  the  prcv  ^45 

Among  his  comrades.      And  the  wines  with  which 
The  good  Acestes  had  filled  full  their  ca.-ks, 


12  The  sEneid. 

On  the  Trinacrian  shore,  when  leaving  him, 

These  he  divides  among  them ;  and  with  words 

Of  comfort  thus  consoles  their  sorrowing  hearts :  —      250 

"  O  friends,  who  greater  sufferings  still  have  borne, 

(For  not  unknown  to  us  are  former  griefs,) 

An  end  also  to  these  the  deity 

Will  give.     You  have  approached  the  furious  rage 

Of  Scylla,  and  her  hoarse  resounding  cliffs.  255 

You  the  Cyclopean  rocks  have  known  full  well. 

Recall  your  courage ;    banish  gloomy  fears. 

Some  day  perhaps  the  memory  of  these  things 

Shall  yield  delight.     Through  various  accidents, 

Through  many  a  strait  of  fortune,  we  are  bound  260 

For  Latium,  where  our  fates  point  out  to  us 

A  quiet  resting-place.     There  't  is  decreed 

Troy's  kingdom  shall  arise  again.     Be  firm, 

And  keep  vour  hearts  in  hope  of  brighter  days." 

Such  were  his  words  :  yet  sick  with  weighty  cares,         265 

He  in  his  features  but  dissembled  hope, 

And  pressed  his  heavy  trouble  down.     But  they 

Busy  themselves  about  their  captured  game, 

And  preparations  for  approaching  feasts. 


Book  i.  13 

The  skin  from  off  the  ribs  they  Btrip,  lay  hare  »;o 

The  carcasse8,  and  CUt  the  meat  apart, 

And  fix  the  quivering  limbs  upon  the  spits. 

Others  set  brazen  caldrons  on  the_sand, 

And  tend  the  rires  beneath  ;   then  they  refresh 

Their  strength  with  food,  and,  stretched  upon  the  grass,  275 

With  the  old  wine  and  juicy  meat  are  rilled. 

Hunger  appeased,  and  dishes  then  removed, 

In  long  discourse  about  their  comrades  lost 

They  make  conjectures,  between  hope  and  fear, 

Uncertain  if  they  still  may  be  alive,  *8o 

Or  have  suffered  death,  nor  hear  when  they  are  called. 

Chierlv  the  good  /Eneas  mourns  the  lot 

And  cruel  fate,  now  of  Orontes  brave, 

And  now  of  Amycus,  and  Gyas  strong, 

And  strong  Cloanthus. 

Now  there  was  an  end  185 

At  length  ;   when  Jove  from  his  ethereal  heights 
Upon  the  sail-winged  ocean  looking  down, 
And  the  wide  lands,  and  shores,  and  nations  spread 
Beneath,  stood  on  the  pinnacle  of  heaven, 
f  AikI  on  the  realm  of  Lybia  fixed  his  eyes. 
But  him,  revolving  in  his  mind  such  cares, 
Venus,  more  ^ad  than  was  her  wont,  addressed, 


1 4  The   AUneid. 

Her  brilliant  eyes  suffused  with  tears  :   "  O  thou 

Who  rulest  over  men  and  gods  with  sway 

Eternal,  —  terrible  with  lightnings  !  —  what  295 

Offence  so  great  has  my  i^neas  done 

'Gainst  thee,  what  have  the  Trojans  done,  that  they, 

Suffering  so  many  deaths,  the  earth  entire, 

On  Italy's  account,  is  shut  to  them  ? 

For  surely  thou  didst  promise  that  one  day  3°° 

In  the  revolving  years,  from  these  should  spring 

The  Romans,  leaders  from  the  Teucrian  blood 

Restored,  and  hold  the  sea,  and  hold  the  land 

In  sovereign  sway.     What  new  resolve  has  changed 

Thy  mind,  O  sire?     For  I  was  wont  with  this*  3°5 

Myself  to  solace  for  Troy's  overthrow, 

And  its  sad  ruin,  weighing  adverse  fates 

With  fates.     But  now  the  same  mischance  pursues 

These  men  long  driven  by  calamities. 

What  end  giv'st  thou,  great  king,  unto  their  toils?  3'° 

Antenor,  from  the  midst  of  Grecian  hosts 

Escaped,  was  able,  safe,  to  penetrate 

The  Illyrian  bay,  and  see  the  interior  realms 

Of  the  Liburni ;   and  to  pass  beyond 

The  source  of  the  Timavus,  issuing  whence,  3>s 

With  a  vast  mountain  murmur  from  nine  springs, 


Book  i.  15 

A  bursting  Hood  goes  forth,  and  on  the  fields 

Crowds  with  resounding  waters.      Yet  he  here 

Founded  the  walls  of  Padua,  and  built 

The  Trojan  seats,  and  to  the  people  gave  3" 

A  name,  and  there  affixed  the  arms  of  Troy. 

Now,  laid  at  rest,  he  sleeps  in  placid  peace. 

But  we,  thy  offspring,  to  whom  thou  dost  give 

The  promise  of  the  palaces  of  heaven, — 

Our  ships  are  lost, — ah  bitter  woe!  —  and  we  3*5 

Betrayed,  to  satisfy  the  wrath  of  one, 

driven  far  from  the  Italian  shores. 
Is  this  the  reward  of  filial  piety  ? 
And  dost  thou  thus  restore  our  sceptred  sway  ?  " 

Then  with  that  countenance  with  which  he  calms  33^ 

The  stormy  skies,  the  Sire  of  men  and  gods, 

Smiling,  his  daughter  fondly  kissed,  and  spake:  — 

"  Spare  thy  fears,  Cytherea,  for  unmoved 

Thy  people's  fates  remain  for  thee ;  and  thou 

Shalt  see  Lavinium  and  its  promised  walls,  335 

And  to  the  stars  of  heaven  shalt  bear  sublime 

The  noble-souled  /Eneas ;   nor  do  I  turn 

From  my  intent.      He  (but  to  thee  alone 

I  tell  it,  since  these  cares  oppress  thy  mind  ; 


/ 


1 6  The   Aineid. 

The  secrets  of  the  Fates  revolving  far  34° 

In  future  eras,  I  for  thee  will  move), — 

He  on  Italia  a  great  war  shall  wage, 

And  shall  subdue  the  fierce  and  hostile  tribes, 

And  give  them  laws,  and  manners,  and  walled  towns, 

Till  the  third  summer  shall  have  seen  him  king  345 

In  Latium,  and  three  winters  shall  have  passed 

After  the  Rutuli  have  been  subdued. 

But  the  young  boy  Ascanius,  unto  whom 

The  name  lulus  now  is  added  (he 

Ilus  was  called,  while  stood  the  Ilian  realm), —  35° 

Thirty  great  circles  of  revolving  months 

Shall  in  his  reign  complete,  and  shall  transfer 

The  kingdom  from  Lavinium,  and  with  strength 

Fortify  Alba-Longa.     Here  shall  reign 

Kings  of  Hectorean  race,  three  hundred  years,  355 

Till  Ilia,  a  priestess  and  a  queen, 

Pregnant  by  Mars,  has  given  birth  to  twins. 

Then,  in  the  tawny  shelter  of  a  wolf, 

His  nurse,  exulting,  Romulus  shall  take 

The  nation  in  his  sway,  and  build  the  walls  360 

Of  the  Mavortian  city,  and  his  name 

Give  to  the  Romans.     Nor  shall  I  to  them 

Set  bounds  or  seasons.      Empire  without  end 

\ 


Book  i.  1 7 

I  have  given.     Nay,  harsh  Juno,  who  disturbs 

With  fear  the  sea  and  land  and  sky,  will  change  365 

Her  counsels  for  the  better,  and  with  me 

Cherish  the  Romans,  masters  of  affairs, 

The  toga'd  nation.     Such  is  my  decree. 

An  age  is  coming  in  the  gliding  years, 

When  the  descendants  of  Assaracus  370 

Phthia  and  famed  Mycenae  shall  subdue, 

And  conquered  Argos.     Of  illustrious  birth 

The  Trojan  Ca?sar  shall  be  born,  whose  sway 

The  ocean,  and  whose  fame  the  stars  alone 

Shall  limit; — Julius  called,  —  a  name  derived  375 

From  great  lulus.     Free  from  all  thy  cares, 

At  length  to  heaven  thou  shalt  receive  him,  rich 

With  Orient  spoilsyinvoked  with  prayers  and  vows. 

Then  shall  the  barbarous  centuries  grow  mild, 

Wars  end,  and  gray-haired  Faith  and  Vesta  rule  ;  380 

And  Romulus  with  his  brother  Remus  give 

Laws  to  the  land.     The  dreadful  gates  of  war 

Will  then  be  shut  with  iron  bolts  and  bars. 

he  wicked  Furor  on  his  cruel  arms, 

jund  with  a  hundred  brazen  knots  behind,  385 

ill  sit  within,  and  rage  with  bloody  mouth." 
3 


lg  The  yEneid. 

He  said;  and  from  on  high  sends  down  the  son  . 

Of  Maia,  that  the  lands  and  new-built  towers 

Of  Carthage  might  be  opened  to  receive 

As  guests  the  Trojans  ;  lest  in  ignorance 

Of  fate,  Dido  should  drive  them  from  her  shores. 

Through  the  vast  air  with  rowing  wings  he  flies, 
And  quickly  alighted  on  the  Lybian  coasts. 
And  now  he  executes  his  high  commands ; 
And  at  his  will  the  Carthaginians  lay 
Aside  their  fierceness  ;  and  the  queen  in  chief 
Toward  the  Trojans  turns  with  friendly  thoughts. 

But  good  ^neas,  pondering  many  things 

All  through  the  night,  soon  as  the  cheering  dawn 

Of  day  should  come,  resolved  to  issue  forth, 

And  to  explore  this  country  all  unknown  ; 

Upon  what  shores  the  wind  had  driven  him  ; 

By  whom  inhabited,  orjnen  or  beasts, 

For  all  seemed  wild,-and  to  his  friends  report 

What  he  might  find.     Beneath  a  hollow  rock 
With  overhanging  woods  he  hid  his  fleet, 
Shut  in  around  by  trees  and  gloomy  shades. 
Then  forth  he  goes,  accompanied  alone 
By  Achates;  in  his  hand  two  broad-tipped  spear 


B 


Book  i.  19 


413 


To  him  then,  in  the  middle  of  a  wood,       "N 

Appeared  his  mother,  with  a  virgin's  face 

And  robe,  and  weapons  of  a  virgin  too; 

Either  ot   Spartan  race,  or  like  the  fair 

Thracian  Harpalyce  when  she  fatigues 

Her  steeds,  more  swift  than  Hebrus  in  his  course.  415 

or  from  the  shoulders  of  the  huntress  hung: 
The  ready  bow,  and  to  the  winds  she  had  given 
Her  loosened  locks.      Bare  to  the  knee  she  stood. 
Her  flowing  robe  was  gathered  in  a  knot. 
"  Ho,  warriors !  "   she  cried  ;   "  tell  me  if  ye  4=0 

Any  one  of  my  sisters  here  have  seen 
Wandering,  with  quiver  girt,  and  spotted  hide 
Of* lynx;   or  pressing  on  the  foaming  boar 
With  clamorous  cries."     So  Venus  spoke;  and  thus 
Her  son  :   "  None  of  thy  sisters  have  I  seen  415 

Or  heard  ;    O  Virgin  !   tell  me  by  what  name 
Shall  I  address  thee ;   for  thy  countenance, 
Thy  voice,  are  not  a  mortal's  ;  surely  then 
A  goddess,  —  Phoebus'  sister,  or  a  nymph. 
O,  be  propitious  !   and,  whoe'er  thou  art,  43° 

Relieve  our  sufferings;   tell  us  in  what  clime, 
On  what  shores,  we  are  cast;   for  ignorant 
Alike  of  men  and  places  here  we  stray, 


20  The   Aineid. 

Driven  hither  by  the  winds  and  by  the  waves; 

And  on  thy  altars  many  victims  slain  43s 

We  '11  offer  thee  !  "     Then  Venus  :   "  I  indeed 

Am  all  unworthy  to  receive  such  honor. 

It  is  the  custom  of  the  Tyrian  maids 

To  bear  the  quiver,  and  about  the  leg 

To  bind  the  purple  buskin.     Tyrians  here  440 

Thou  seest,  —  Agenor's  city,  and  the  realm 

Of  Carthage,  on  the  Lybian  land,  —  a  race 

Untamable  in  war.     Dido  from  Tyre 

The  kingdom  rules,  who  from  her  brother  fled. 

Long  is  the  story  of  her  wrongs,  and  long  445 

Its  windings;  but  the  chief  events  I  '11  tell. 

Sychasus  was  her  spouse,  of  all  Phoenicians 

The  wealthiest  in  lands,  and  greatly  loved 

By  her,  unhappy.      She  was  given  to  him 

A  virgin  by  her  father,  and  was  wed  45° 

With  fairest  omens.     But  Pygmalion, 

Her  brother,  ruled  in  Tyre ;  a  monster  he 

Of  crime.     A  feud  arose  between  the  two. 

Regardless  of  his  sister's  wedded  love, 

He,  blind  with  lust  of  gold,  in  secrecy  45s 

The  unguarded  husband  at  the  altar  slew. 

Long  he  concealed  the  crime,  and  wickedly 


J 


Book   I.  2  I 

Inventing  many  a  talc,  the  loving  queen 

Deceived  with  empty  hope.      Hut  in  her  sleep 

The  gEost  of  her  unhuricd  husband  came,  460 

Lifting  a  visage  marvellously  pale; 

And  showed  the  cruel  altars,  and  laid  bare 

The  breast  the  dagger  pierced,  uncovering  all 

The  hidden  crimes  of  his  detested  house; 

And  counselled  her  to  leave  the  land,  and  fly;  465 

And,  for  her  journey's  aid,  disclosed  to  her 

Much  ancient  treasure  hidden  in  the  earth, 

An  unknown  heap  of  silver  and  of  gold. 

Thus  moved,  Dido  prepared  for  flight,  and  chose 

Companions.     All  assembled  who  were  led  470 

By  hatred  of  the  tyrant  or  by  fear. 

They  seized  upon  some  ships,  ready  by  chance, 

And  loaded  them  with  treasure;   and  the  wealth 

Of  covetous  Pygmalion  was  conveyed 

Away  across  the  sea.     A  woman  led  4-5 

The  enterprise.     They  reached  the  shores  (where  now 

Soon  thou  shalt  see  the  mighty  battlements 

And  citadel  of  our  new  Carthage  rise), 

And  purchased  ground,  called  Byrsa,  from  the  fact, — 

As  much  as  a  bull's  hide  could  compass  round. 

"  But  who  are  ye  ?     From  what  shores  do  ye  come  ? 


22  The  Aineid. 

And  whither  are  ye  going  ?  "     With  a  sigh, 

And  voice  dragged  from  his  deepest  breast,  he  spoke:  — 

"  O  goddess,  if  I  should  recount  our  woes 

From  their  first  origin,  and  thou  find  time  4S5 

To  hear,  the  evening  star  would  lead  the  day 

To  rest,  and  all  the  Olympian  sky  be  shut! 

"  From  ancient  Troy,  if  thou  perchance  hast  heard 
The  name  of  Troy,  we  have  been  driven  by  storms 
O'er  various  seas,  upon  these  Lybian  coasts.  49° 

I  am  called  the  good  iEneas,  known  to  fame 
Above  the  ether,  who  our  household  gods 
Snatched  from  our  enemies,  and  in  my  fleet 
Convey.     Italia,  my  ancestral  land, 

And  the  race  sprung  from  Jove  supreme,  I  seek.  495 

With  twice  ten  ships  upon  the  Phrygian  Sea, 
My  divine  mother  showing  me  the  way, 
I,  following  my  destinies,  embarked. 
Scarce  seven  of  these,  shattered  by  storms,  are^aved. 
And  I,  unknown  and  needy,  traverse  here  5°° 

The  Lybian  deserts,  banished  from  the  shores 
Of  Europe,  and  of  Asia  —  " 

But  no  more 
Did  Venus  suffer  of  her  son's  complaint, 
But  in  the  middle  of  his  grief,  thus  spoke  :  — 


Book  i.  23 


"Whoe'er  thou  art,  not  hated,  I  believe,  5  5 

By  the  Celestials,  dost  thou  breathe  this  air, 

Since  to  the  Tynan  city  thou  hast  come. 

Continue  now  thy  course,  and  hence  proceed 

Tow  aid  the  royal  palace  of  the  queen. 

For  I  announce  to  thee  thy  friends  returned,  s10 

Thy  fleet  brought  back  into  a  harbor  safe, 

The  north-winds  having  changed;  unless  to  me 

My  parents  taught  false  augury,  self-deceived. 

See  yon  twelve  swans  rejoicing  in  a  flock, 

Which,  but  a  moment  since,  Jove's  eagle  scared,  s'5 

And  gliding  from  on  high,  drove  through  the  air. 

Now  in  long  line  either  o*n  earth  they  light, 

Or,  looking  down,  see  their  companions  lit. 

As  they,  returning,  sport  with  whistling  wings, 

Clustered  together  with  their  joyful  cries,  520 

Just  so  thy  ships  and  thy  brave  youths  e'en  now 

Are  either  safe  in  port,  or  sailing  in. 

Go  then,  and,  as  thy  path  leads,  bend  thy  steps." 

She  said  ;  and  turning,  gleamed  with  rosy  neck, 

And  from  Tier  head  divinest  odors  breathed  5*5 

In  her  ambrosial  hair.      Around  her  feet 

Floated  her  flowing  robe ;   and  in  her  gait 


24  The   sEneid. 

r 

All  the  true  goddess  was  revealed.     But  he, 

When  now  he  knew  his  mother  as  she  fled, 

Thus  followed  with  his  voice:   "Ah,  why  so  oft  53° 

Dost  thou  deceive  thy  son,  thou  cruel  too, 

With  airy  images  ?     Why  not  join  hand 

With  hand,  and  real  language  hear  and  speak  ? " 

Thus  he  reproaches  her,  and  onward  moves 
Toward  the  walls.     But  Venus  with  a  mist  53s 

Obscured  them,  walking,  and  around  their  forms 
Wove  a  thick  veil,  lest  any  should  perceive 
Or  harm  them,  or  delay,  or  seek  to  know 
Why  they  had  come.    Jkit  she  herself  on  high 
Her  way  to  Paphos  took,  and  saw  again  540 

With  joy  her  seats,  and  saw  her  temples,  where 
A  hundred  altars  stand,  and  glow  with  sweet 
Sabaean  incense,  and  with  fresh-culled  flowers. 

Following  their  pathway  then  they  hastened  or 

And  now  a  hill  ascended,  which  o'erlooked  545 

The  city  and  its  towers.     ./Eneas  there 

Admires  the  mass  of  buildings,  once  mere  huts; 

Admires  the  gates,  the  bustle,  and  the  streets. 

The  ardent  Tyrians  urge  their  busy  tasks ; 

Some  at  the  walls,  some  at  the  citadel  550 


Book  l  25 

Toil,  rolling  up  the  stones.      Some  choose  a  spot 

For  building,  and  a  furrow  trace  around. 

And  forms  of  law  and  magistrates  they  make, 

And  choose  a  reverend  senate.     Others  here 

Are  scooping  docks ;  and  others  still  lay  down  555 

The  large  foundations  of  a  theatre, 

And  cut  huge  columns  from  the  quarried  rocks, 

The  lofty  ornaments  for  future  scenes. 

As  in  the  early  summer  when  the  bees 

Toil  in  the  sunshine  through  the  flowery  fields,  560 

And  lead  their  full-grown  offspring  from  their  hives; 

Or  pack  their  liquid  honey  into  cells, 

Distending  them  with  nectar  sweet ;  or  take 

The  loads  of  those  that  come ;  or  forming  lines, 

Expel  the  lazy  drones  ;  the  work  grows  warm,  s65 

And  all  the  honey  smells  of  fragrant  thyme. 

"  O  happy  ye,  whose  walls  are  rising  now !  " 

iEneas  says,  as  on  their  towers  he  looks  ; 

Then  onward  moves,  surrounded  by  the  cloud, 

And,  wonderful  to  tell,  amid  the  throng  570 

Mingles,  and  passes  through,  unseen  by  all. 

There  stood  a  grove  within  the  city's  midst, 
Delicious  for  its  shade ;   where,  when  they  came 
4 


• 


26  The   Aliieid. 

First  to  this  place,  by  waves  and  tempest  tossed, 

The  Carthaginians  from  the  earth  dug  up  575 

An  omen  royal  Juno  had  foretold 

That  they  should  find,  a  noble  horse's  head ; 

Thus  intimating  that  this  race  would  shine, 

Famous  in^ar,  and  furnished  with  supplies, 

For  ages.     Here  the  great  Sidonian  queen  sSo 

A  temple  built  to  Juno,  rich  in  gifts, 

And  in  the  presence  of  the  goddess  blessed. 

A  brazen  threshold  rose  above  the  steps, 

With  brazen  posts  connecting,  and  the  hinge 

Creaked  upon  brazen  doors. /  Within  this  grove  585 

A  new  thing  they  beheld,  which  their  first  fear 

Relieved  ;  and  here  iEneas  first  began 

To  hope  for  safety,  with  a  better  trust 

In  his  afflicted  state,  j    For  while  he  waits 

The  coming  of  the  queen,  and  looks  around  59°  .  L 

At  every  object  in  the  spacious  temple, 

And  on  the  city's  fortune  wondering, 

And  skill  and  labor  of  the  artisans, 

He  sees  the  Trojan  battles  painted  there 

In  order,  and  the  wars  now  known  to  fame  595 

Through  the  whole  earth.     The  Atrida?  there  he  sees, 

And  Priam,  and  Achilles,  foe  to  both. 


. 


Book   i.  27 

Fixed  to  the  spot  he  stood,  and  weeping,  said  : 

"  What  place,  Achates,  and  what  land  on  earth 

Is  not  replete  with  stories  of  our  woes? 

See,  Priam!  —  Worthy  deeds  e'en  here  are  praised, 

And  mortal  sufferings  move  their  thoughts  and  tears. 

Banish  all  tear!     This  fame  some  safety  hrings." 

So  saying,  lie  on  the  unreal  picture  fed 

His  mind,  with  heavy  sighs,  and  streaming  tears. 

For  now  he  saw  how,  battling  around  Troy, 

Here  tied  the  Greeks,  and  pressed  the  Trojan  youths, 

The  Phrygians  there,  and  crested  Achilles  urged 

His  chariot  on.     And  next,  with  tears,  he  saw 

The  snow-white  tents  of  Rhesus,  which,  betrayed  610 

By  the  first  sleep,  the  cruel  Diomed 

Laid  waste  with  carnage,  and  into  his  camp 

The  fiery  coursers  turned,  ere  they  should  taste 

Of  Trojan  pasture,  or  drink  the  Xanthian  wave. 

Here  Troilus  he  see^  the  unhappy  youth  615 

Flying,  his  shield  lost,  in  unequal  fight 

Met  by  Achilles;   now  by  his  horses  whirled, 

Still  to  his  empty  chariot,  thrown  to  earth, 

Grasping  his  reins,  he  clings  ;   his  neck  and  hair 

Along  the  earth  are  dragged,  and  through  the  du^t         6ao 

His  pointed  spear  reversed  makes  idle  tracks. 


62; 


28  The   Aineid. 

Meanwhile  the  Trojan  women  to  the  shrine 

Of  unpropitious  Pallas  go,  with  hair 

Unbound,  wearing  the  peplus,  suppliant  all 

And  sad,  and  beat  their  breasts.     The  goddess  still 

Averts  her  eyes  fixed  sternly  on  the  ground. 

Three  times  Achilles  round  the  walls  of  Troy 

Had  dragged  the  lifeless  Hector,  and  his  corpse 

Was  bartering  for  gold.     iEneas  here 

Groaned  from  his  inmost  breast,  as  he  beheld  630 

The  chariot,  spoils,  and  his  friend's  corpse  itself; 

And  Priam  stretching  out  his  helpless  arms. 

Also  himself  he  saw,  mixed  with  the  chiefs 

Of  Greece,  and  the  Eastern  forces,  and  the  arms 

Of  swarthy  Memnon.      Penthesilea  next,  635 

Raging,  led  on  the  Amazonian  bands, 

With  crescent  bucklers,  eager  in  the  fight ; 

A  golden  girdle  'neath  her  naked  breast ;  — 

A  maiden  warrior,  daring  to  contend^ 

With  men ! 

While  thus  /Eneas  wondering  views  640 

These  things,  and  stands  with  a  bewildered  gaze, 
Dido  the  queen  in  all  her  loveliness 
Has  come  into  the  temple,  a  great  band 
Of  warrior  youths  attending  on  her  steps. 


Book   i.  29 

As  on  Eurota's  banks,  or  on  the  tops  645 

Of  Cynthus,  when  Diana  leads  along 

Her  dancing  choirs,  a  thousand  mountain  nymphs 

Follow  and  cluster,  right  and  left;   but  she, 

Bearing  the  quiver  on  her  shoulder,  walks 

Taller  than  all  the  goddesses  around;  65° 

While  silent  rapture  fills  Latona's  breast :  — 

Such  Dido  was,  as  radiantly  she  stood 

Amid  the  throng,  heium4ftd-bent  on  affairs,  %  # 

And  busy-w~rtk4ier  future  sovereignty.  / 

Then  in  the  temple's  sacred  gates,  beneath  „  £55 

The  vaulted  roof,  her  armed  bands  around, 

And  raised  upon  a  lofty  throne,  she  sat, 

To  administer  the  laws  and  rights  to  all, 

And  by  division  just  to  equalize 

Their  tasks,  or  else  determine  them  by  lot :  —  660 

When  suddenly  JEneas  sees  approach, 

With  a  great  multitude  surrounding  them, 

Antheus,  Sergestus,  and  the  strong  Cloanthus, 

And  other  Trojans,  whom  the  frowning  storm 

Had  scattered  on  the  sea,  or  carried  off*  665 

To  other  coasts.     Astonished  he  stood  there, 

As  did  Achates^  struck  with  joy  and  fear. 

Eager,  they  burned  to  grasp  their  comrades'  hands ; 


30  The  Aineid. 

But  the  uncertain  issue  troubled  them. 

So  they  refrain,  and  from  their  hollow  cloud  67o 

Observe  what  chance  may  have  befallen  their  friends ; 

Upon  what  shore  they  left  their  fleet,  and  why 

They  came  together ;   for  from  every  ship 

They  came,  as  though  selected,  and  approached 

The  temple,  loudly  begging  to  be  heard.  675 

• 

\yhen  they  had  entered,  and  full  leave  was  given 

To  speak,  their  eldest,  Ilioneus,  thus 

With  tranquil  tones  began  J  "O  queen,  to  whom 

Jove  has  given  power  to  found  a  city  new, 

And  with  just  rule  to  curb  the  haughty  tribes,  6S0 

We,  miserable  Trojans,  tossed  about 

By  storms  upon  the  seas,  appeal  to  thee. 

Defend  our  galleys  from  the  dreadful  flames  ; 

Spare  a  devout  and  unoffending  race, 

And  take  a  nearer  view  of  our  affairs.  6S5 


e  do  not  come  with  swords  to  desolate 


The  Lybian  homes,  or  to  the  shores  bear  off 

The  plunder.     No  such  hostile  mind  is  ours; 

Nor  can  we,  vanquished,  entertain  such  pride. 

There  is  a  place,  by  Greeks  Hesperia  called  ;  690 

An  ancient  land  it  is,  potent  in  arms, 


Book   I.  ^31 

And  rich  in  fertile  soil ;  by  CEnotrian  men 

Once  tilled.     Now,  their  descendants,  it  is  said, 

Call  it  Italia,  from  their  leader's  name. 

Hither  our  course  was  shaped,  when  suddenly,  695 

Stormy  Orion  rising,  on  blind  shoals 

Swept  us,  the  sport  of  insolent  south-winds, 

And  overpowered  by  the  drenching  brine, 

Across  the  sea,  and  over  pathless  rocks ; 

Hither  we  few  have  floated  to  your  shores.  7°° 

But  what  a  race  is  this,  —  what  barbarous  land, 

Permitting  such  a  custom,  —  to  refuse 

Its  sea-coast's  barren  hospitalities, 

And  stir  up  war  on  us,  forbid  to  set 

Our  feet  upon  the  first  shore  that  we  see!  7°s 

If  ye  despise  the  human  race,  and  arms 

Of  mortal  men,  yet  must  ye  know  the  gods 

Arejnindful  evermore  of  right  and  wrong. 

./Eneas  was  our  king,  than  whom  no  man 

More  just  in  piety  e'er  lived,  or  great  :*> 

In  war  and  arms;   whom  if  the  Fates  preserve, — 

If  still  he  breathes  the  ethereal  air,  not  yet 

A  dweller  in  the  cruel  shades  of  death, — 

We  have  no  fear  that  thou  wilt  e'er  repent 

To  have  surpassed  him  in  a  generous  deed.  7>s 


3  2  The   ^Eneid. 

In  the  Sicilian  lands  there  are  fields  for  us, 

And  cities;   and  renowned  Acestes  there 

Derives  his  lineage  from  the  Trojan  blood. 

Suffer  us  but  to  draw  on  shore  our  fleet 

Shattered  by  winds,  and  from  the  woods  to  choose  7*0 

New  timbers  and  new  oars,  if  so  we  may, 

Holding  our  course  to  Italy,  our  friends 

And  king  restored,  joyfully  yet  attain 

That  land  and  Latium.X  But  if  our  chief  hope 

Is  gone,  —  if  thee,  best  father  of  our  race,  725 

The  Lybian  sea  ingulfs,  nor  hope  remains 

Of  young  lulus,  —  we  may  seek  at  least 

The  straits  of  Sicily,  the  seats  prepared 

In  King  Acestes'  realm,  from  which  we  came." 

Thus  pleaded  Ilioneus.     With  one  voice  730 

The  other  Trojans  murmured  their  consent. 

Then  briefly  Dido  spoke,  with  downcast  eyes :  — 

"  Trojans,  dismiss  your  fears,  banish  your  cares. 

Experience  hard,  and  my  new  kingdom's  needs 

Force  me  to  use  such  measures,  and  to  guard  735 

My  boundaries  far  and  wide.     But  who  knows  not 

Eneas'  race,  and  Troy,  —  her  valorous  deeds, 

Her  men,  and  devastations  of  her  war  ? 


Book    i.  2>3 

We  Carthaginians  bear  not  hearts  so  dull ; 

Nor  docs  the  Sun  his  combers  yoke  so  far  740 

From  this  our  Tynan  city.      Whether  you 

The  great  Hesperia  and  Saturnian  tields 

Desire,  or  land  of  Eryx,  and  the  king 

Acestes,  I  will  send  you  safe  away, 

With  help  from  my  resources.     Or  if  here  745 

On  equal  terms  with  us  ye  would  remain, 

The  city  which  I  build  is  yours.      Draw  up 

Your  ships.     Trojans  and  Tyrians  from  me 

Shall  no  distinction  know.      And  would  to  heaven 

Your  king  himself,  /Eneas,  hither  borne  75° 

Bv  those  same  winds,  might  come  !      I  to  the  coasts 

Will  send  sure  messengers,  and  give  commands 

To  search  the  farthest  parts  of  Lybia, 

It,  wrecked,  he  wanders  in  some  wood  or  town." 

Their  minds  excited  by  these  words,  long  since  755 

./Eneas  and  Achates  burned  to  break 

Forth  from  the  cloud.      But  first  Achates  urged 

./Eneas  thus  :   "  O  thou  of  birth  divine, 

What  wish  is  this  that  rises  in  thy  mind  ? 

All  now  is  safe,  —  our  fleet,  our  friends  restored  ;  —       760 

One  only  absent,  whom  with  our  own  eyes 

5 


34  The   Alneid. 

We  saw  the  sea  ingulf;  but  all  the  rest 

Accords  with  what  thy  mother's  words  foretold." 

Scarce  had  he  spoken,  when  the  veiling  cloud 

Suddenly  broke,  dissolving  into  air.  765 

There  stood  /Eneas,  shining  in  the  light, 

With  countenance  and  shoulders  like  a  god. 

For  she  herself,  his  mother,  on  her  son 

Had  breathed  a  glory  in  his  locks,  and  light 

Of  radiant  youth,  and  splendor  in  his  eyes.  770 

So  skill  adds  beauty  to  the  ivory, 

Or  gives  the  silver  or  the  Parian  stone 

Setting  of  yellow  gold.     Then  to  the  queen, 

Sudden  and  unforeseen  by  all,  he  said  :  — 

"  Behold  me  here  before  you,  —  him  you  seek,  775 

Trojan  iEneas,  snatched  from  Lybian  waves'- 

O  thou  who  alone  hast  pitied  our  woes,  — 

The  unutterable  sufferings  of  our  Troy! 

Who  to  us,  a  remnant  from  the  Greeks,  long  tossed 

On  sea  and  land,  by  much  disaster  worn,  7*° 

And  wanting  everything,  dost  give  a  share 

Of  city  and  home ;  —  it  is  not  in  our  power, 

()  Dido!   nor  in  that  of  any  men 

Of  Trojan  race,  scattered  about  the  world, 

To  give  thee  worthy  thanks.     If  anywhere  r*.< 


Book    i.  35 

The  gods  regard  the  good  ;    it"  anywhere 
Be  justice,  and  a  mind  within  itself 
Conscious  of  rectitude,  —  the  gods  shall  give 

Deserved  reward  to  thee.      What  times  so  blest 

A.S  those  that  hear  thee?      Or  what  parents  boast  -9° 

Such  offspring?     While  the  rivers  to  the  sea 

Shall  run,  —  while  mountain  shadows  move  around 

Their  sides, —  and  while  the  heavens  shall  feed  the  stars, 

So  long  thy  honor,  and  thy  name  and  praise 

Shall  last,  whatever  lands  may  call  me  hence."  79s 

This  said,  wrth  his  right  hand  he  grasps  the  hand 

Of  Ilioneus,  Serestus  with  his  left  :  — 

Then  Gvas,  and  Cloanthus,  and  the  rest. 

Dumb  with  amazement  at  first  sight  of  him 

And  his  hard  lot,  Sidonian  Dido  stood,  800 

And  thus  began  :    "  O  thou  of  birth  divine, 

\\  hat  destiny  pursues  thee  through  a  course 

Of  so  much  peril  ?     On  these  savage  coasts 

What  power  has  thrown  thee  ?     Art  thou  then  indeed 

T.neas,  whom  the  lovely  Venus  bore  805 

To  Anchises  by  the  Phrygian  Simois'  wave? 

And  I  indeed  recall  that  Teucer  came 

To  Sidon,  from  his  native  land  expelled, 


6 


6  The   Aineid. 


For  a  new  kingdom  seeking,  with  the  help 

Of  Belus:   he,  my  father,  at  that  time  810 

Was  devastating  Cyprus,  which,  subdued, 

He  held  ;   and  from  that  day  were  known  to  me 

The  Trojan  city's  fortunes,  and  thy  name, 

And  the  Pelasgian  kings.     Thy  enemy 

Himself  the  Trojan  nation  loudly  praised,  815 

And  deemed  himself  descended  from  their  line. 

Come  then,  O  warriors,  enter  our  abodes ! 

I  also  from  calamities  like  yours 

Have  suffered  much,  till  here  I  set  my  feet. 

Not  ignorant  of  trouble,  I  have  learned  8*° 

To  succor  the  distressed." 

As  thus  she  spoke, 
She^eads  /Eneas  to  the  royal  courts ; 
And  in^tkje  temples  of  the  gods,  commands 
A  sacrifice.      Meanwhile,  with  no  less  care, 
Down  to  the  sea-shore  twenty  bulls  she  sends,  8*s 

mndred  bristly  backs  of  full-grown  swine, 
of  fat  lambs  a  hundred,  with  their  dams. 
Such  were  her  gifts,  for  joyous  feasts  designed. 

Int  all  the  interior  palace  is  arranged 

V7ith  splendor  and  with  regal  luxury,  85o 

And  banquets  are  prepared,  and  draperies 


Book   i.  3  7 

Of  purple  dye,  elaborately  wrought; 

And  on  the  tables  massive  silver  shines, 

And  records  of    ancestral  deeds,  engraved 

In  gold,  in  a  long  series  of  events  *^ 

Traced  step  by  step  from  ancient  lineage  down. 

yEneas  —  for  a  father's  love  forbade 

His  mind  repose  —  the  swift  Achates  sends 

Back  to  the  ships,  to  bear  to  Ascanius 

The  tidings,  and  to  lead  him  to  the  city.  840 

In  his  Ascanius  centres  all  his  care. 

Gifts  too,  that  from  the  wreck  of  Troy  were  snatched, 

He  orders  him  to  bring  ;   a  mantle  stiff 

With  figures  and  with  gold;   also  a  veil 

With  satfron-hued  acanthus  broidered  round  ;  —  845 

The  Grecian  Helen's  ornaments,  the  rare 

And  wondrous  gifts  her  mother  Leda  gave, 

And  which  her  daughter  from  Mycenae  brought 

To  Troy,  seeking  illicit  marriage  rites. 

Also  the  sceptre  Ilione  once  had  borne,  s5o 

Eldest  of  Priam's  daughters  ;  —  and  with  these 

A  beaded  necklace,  and  a  diadem 

Double  with  gems  and  gold.      Hastening  for  these, 

Achates  to  the  ships  pursued  his  way. 


38 


The  yEneid. 


But  Cytherea  in  her  breast  revolves  85s 

New  arts  and  new  designs ;   that  Cupid,  changed 

In  face  and  form,  may  pass  for  Ascanius, 

Inflame  with  gifts  the  ardent  queen,  and  send 

The  fire  of  love  through  all  her  glowing  limbs. 

For  she  the  dubious  faith  and  double  tongues  S60 

Of  Tyrians  fears.      Fierce  Juno  vexes  her; 

And  with  the  night  her  troubled  thoughts  return. 

Then  to  the  winged  god  of  love  she  speaks: 

"  O  son,  who  art  my  strength,  my  mighty  power; 

Son,  who  alone  the  dread  Typhoean  bolts  S65 

Of  the  great  father  dost  despise  ;  to  thee 

I  fly,  and  suppliant  demand  thy  aid. 

How  by  fell  Juno's  hate,  on  every  coast 

Thy  brother  /Eneas  is  driven  about  the  seas, 

Thou  knowest,  and  often  sorrowest  for  our  grief.  s70 

Him  the  Phoenician  Dido  with  sweet  words 

Detains ;   and  I  have  fears  how  it  may  fare 

With  these  Junonian  hospitalities. 

At  such  a  turning-point  in  these  affairs 

She  will  not  pause.     Therefore  I  meditate  S75 

How  I  beforehand  may  possess  this  queen, 

And  gird  her  round  with  flames,  lest  she  should  change 

By  influence  oi  any  deity, 


\ 


Book  i.  39 

But  side  with  me  in  the  great  love  she  bears 

To  /Eneas.     In  what  way  thou  canst  do  this, —  sso 

Now  listen  to  my  scheme.     The  princely  boy 

rhis  is  my  cherished  plan)  prepares  to  go 
To  Carthage,  at  the  summons  of  his  sire, 
With  gifts  from  seas  and  from  the  flames  of  Troy 
Rescued.   /Him,  having  lulled  in  deepest  sleep,  ss5 

I  shall  conceal  on  high  Cythera's  top, 
Or  on  Idalium,  my  sacred  seat, 

Lest  he  should  know  our  wiles,  or  thwart  our  schemes. 
/  Do  thou  with  guileful  art  assume  his  face 
Not  longer  than  one  night,  and,  boy  thyself,  890 

Put  on  the  well-known  features  of  the  boy. 
And  when  the  joyous  Dido  takes  thee  up 
Upon  her  lap,  amid  the  royal  feast, 
When  the  Lyasan  wine  is  foaming  high  ; 
When  she  embraces  thee  with  kisses  soft,  —  893 

Then  breathe  into  her  heart  thy  hidden  fire, 
Beguiling  her  with  poison."     Love  ojpeys 
The  charge  of  his  dear  mother,  dffrs  his  wings, 
And  smiling  imitates  lulus?  gait. 

But  Venus  with  a  placid  steep  bedewrs  900 

Ascanius'  limbs,  and  fonc™  taking  him 
LTpon  her  bosom,  bears  him  far  away 


40  The  Aineid. 

To  the  high  Idalian  groves,  where  breathing  soft, 

Sweet-marjoram  beds  with  perfume  and  with  shade 

Embrace  him  sleeping.     And  now  Cupid  went,  9c5 

Obeying  her  behest,  the  royal  gifts 

Conveying  to  the  Tyrians,  and  led  on, 

Well  pleased  to  have  Achates  for  his  guide. 

When  he  arrived,  upon  a  golden  couch 

With  sumptuous  tapestry,  the  queen  reclined  91° 

In  state  within  the  middle  of  the  hall. 

And  now  iEneas,  now  the  Trojan  youths 

Assemble,  and  on  purple  couches  lie. 

Then  water  for  their  hands  the  servants  bring, 

And  bread  from  baskets,  and  around  supply  9*5 

Towels  with  nap  well  shorn.     Within  are  seen 

Fifty  maid-servants,  who  in  long  array 

Attend  the  hearths,  and  with  burnt  sacrifice 

Enlarge  the  influence  of  the  household  gods; 

A  hundred  others  too,  of  equal  age,  9*0 

Who  serve  the  dishes,  and  who  fill  the  cups. 

And  crowds  of  Tyrians  also  come,  and  throng 

The  festive  rooms,  invited  to  recline 

Upon  the  embroidered  couches.     Much  they  admire 

The  gifts  ./Eneas  brought ;   lulus  too,  925 


f  UNI,  ) 

Z?<  h  ik    J.  4  r 

The  glowing  beauty  of  the  godlike  face, 

And  simulated  speech;   the  cloak,  the  veil 

With  saffron -hued  acanthus  broidered  round. 

But  the  Phoenician  queen,  all  dedicate 

To  passion  fraught  with  coming  misery,  930 

With  soul  insatiate  burns,  and  gazes  long, 

Moved  by  the  boy  and  by  his  gifts  alike. 

He,  having  hung  about  /Eneas'  neck, 

Locked  in  a  fond  embrace,  and  the  deep  love 

Of  his  false  father  satisfied,  then  seeks  93s 

The  queen  ;  she  with  her  eyes  and  all  her  heart 

Clings  to  him,  fondles  him  upon  her  lap;  — 

Xor  knows,  unhappy  one,  how  great  the  god 

Who  presses  on  her  breast.     He,  mindful  of 

His  Acidalian  mother,  by  degrees  943 

Begins  to  abolish  all  the  memory 

Of  her  Sycha?us,  and  with  living  love 

Preoccupy  the  mind  long  since  unmoved, 

And  unaccustomed  motions  of  her  heart. 


When  in  the  feast  there  came  a  pause,  the  plates  943 

Removed,  large  bowls  are  set,  the  wines  are  crowned; 
The  rooms  are  rilled  with  noise  ;   the  spacious  halls 
R^ound  with  voices.     From  the  ceilings  high 


42  The   Aineid. 

O'erlaid  with  gold,  hang  lighted  lamps,  and  night 

Is  vanquished  by  the  torches'  blaze.      And  now  950 

The  queen  demands  a  bowl  heavy  with  gems 

And  gold,  and  fills  it  high  with  unmixed  wine, 

As  Belus  did,  and  his  descendants  all. 

Then  silence  hushed  the  rooms,  while  thus  the  queen  :  — 

"  O  Jove,  —  for  thou,  't  is  said,  dost  give  the  laws  955 

Of  guests  and  hosts  alike,  —  be  it  thy  will, 

That  this  may  be  a  joyful  day  to  all, 

Tyrians  and  Trojans,  in  remembrance  held 

By  our  descendants.      Bacchus,  giver  of  joy, 

Be  present  ;   and,  propitious  Juno,  smile!  960 

And  you,  O  Tyrians,  favoring,  celebrate 

The  meeting !  "     With  these  words  she  poured  upon 

The  table  a  libation  of  the  wine; 

And  what  was  left  touched  lightly  to  her  lips, 

And,  with  a  bantering  tone,  to  Bitias  gave.  96s 

He,  not  unwilling,  drained  the  foaming  bowl, 

And  from  the  full  gold  drenched  himself  with  wine. 

Then  followed  other  guests  of  lordly  rank. 

Long-haired  Iopas  with  his  golden  lyre 

Pours  out  with  ringing  voice  what  Atlas  taught.  970 

He  sings  the  wandering  moon,  and  of  the  sun 

The  laboring  eclipses;  and  of  men, 


Book  i.  43 

And  cattle,  ami  of  showers,  and  tires  ot   heaven  ; 

Arcturus,  and  the  rainy  Hyades; 

And  the  two  constellations  ot  the  Bears;  97s 

And  why  the  winter  suns  make  haste  to  dip 
In  ocean,  and  what  causes  the  delay 
Ot'  slowly  moving  nights*/  The  Tyrians  shout, 
Redoubling  their  applause;   the  Trojans  join. 

Thus  did  the  unhappy  queen  prolong  the  night  9S0 

With  varied  converse,  drinking  in  the  while 

Lons  draughts  of  love  :   and  much  of  Priam  asked 

And  much  of  Hector ;   how  equipped  in  arms 

Aurora's  son  had  come;   how  looked  the  steeds 

Of  Diomed ;   how  large  Achilles  stood.  985 

"Come  now,  my  guest,"  she  said;   "and  from  the  first 

Relate  to  us  the  Grecian  stratagems, 

And  all  thy  people's  sad  mishaps,  and  all 

Thy  voyages ;   for  now  the  seventh  year 

Bears  thee  still  wandering  over  land  and  sea."  99° 


BOOK    II. 


A   LL  silent  sat,  with  looks  intent ;  when  thus 
iEneas  from  his  lofty  couch  began. 


O  queen,  thou  dost  command  me  to  renew 
A  grief  unutterable ;   how  the  Greeks 
O'erturned  the  power  and  lamentable  realm 
Of  Troy  :  the  afflicting  scenes  that  I  myself 
Beheld,  and  a  great  part  of  which  I  was. 
Who  of  the  Myrmidons  or  Dolopes, 
Or  of  the  hard  Ulysses'  soldiery, 
Can,  speaking  of  such  things,  refrain  from  tears? 
Now  too  the  humid  night  from  heaven  descends, 
And  all  the  sinking  stars  persuade  to  sleep. 
Still,  if  there  be  such  earnest  wish  to  hear 
Our  sad  disasters,  and  in  brief  to  know 
The  last  expiring  sufferings  of  Troy, 
Though  my  soul  shudders  at  the  memory, 
And  in  its  grief  shrinks  back,  I  will  begin. 


Book   n.  45 

Broken  by  war,  and  baffled  by  the  fates 

Through  such  a  lapse  of  years,  the  Grecian  chiefs 

Construct  a  horse,  by  Pallas'  art  divine,  *o 

Huge  as  a  mountain,  and  enlaced  and  ribbed 

With  beams  of  fir.     This  they  pretend  to  be 

A  votive  ottering  for  their  safe  return. 

So  went  the  rumor.      But  they  secretly 

o~its  blind  sides  conveyed  a  chosen  band  *5 

Of  warriors,  and  so  filled  the  caverns  vast 
Of  the  dark  womb  with  armed  soldiery. 

The  isle  of  Tenedos  lies  full  in  sight, 

Well  known  to  fame,  and  in  resources  rich, 

While  Priam's  empire  stood;   but  now  it  holds  3° 

Merely  a  bay,  a  faithless  port  for  ships. 

And  here  our  foes  upon  the  desert  coast 

Conceal  themselves,  while  we  suppose  them  gone, 

Returning  to  Mycenae  with  the  wind. 

Therefore  all  Troy  her  long  grief  throws  aside;  35 

The  gates  stand  open  ;  and  we  go  to  see 

With  joy  the  Doric  camps,  the  abandoned  posts, 

And  the  deserted  shore.     The  Dolopes 

Were  here,  and  here  the  fierce  Achilles  camped  ; 

Here  lay  their  fleet;   and  here  were  battles  fought.  40 


46  The  sEneid. 

Some  at  the  virgin  Pallas'  fatal  gift 

Astonished  stare,  and  the  huge  horse's  size 

Admire.     And  first  Thymoetes  gives  advice 

To  carry  it  within  the  city's  walls, 

And  place  it  in  the  citadel,  —  thus  moved  45 

By  treacherous  design  ;   or  else  the  fates 

Of  Troy  so  ordered  it.     But  Capys  urged 

(With  those  who  wisest  in  opinion  stood) 

That  we  should  either  throw  into  the  sea 

The  Greeks'  insidious  snare  and  gift  suspect,  s° 

And  burn  it,  setting  fire  beneath  ;  or  else 

Bore  through  it,  and  its  secret  caves  explore. 

So  the  uncertain  crowd  divided  stood 

With  views  conflicting. 

First,  in  front  of  all, 
Attended  by  a  numerous  throng  of  men,  55 

Laocoon  from  the  citadel  runs  down, 
Impetuously,  and  from  a  distance  cries : 
"  O  wretched  men  !     What  madness,  citizens, 
Is  this?     Believe  ye  then  our  foes  are  gone? 
Do  ye  suppose  that  any  Grecian  gifts  ^ 

Are  lacking  in  deceit?     Or  is  it  thus 
Ulysses  has  been  known  ?     Either  the  Greeks 
Within  this  wooden  fabric  are  concealed, 


/ 


B  ok  11. 


•17 


Or  it  is  framed  to  bear  against  our  walls, 

And  overlook  our  houses,  and  descend 

Upon  our  city  ;   or  some  other  guile 

Is  lurking.      Trojans,  do  not  trust  this  horse. 

Whatever  it  may  he,  I  fear  the  Greeks, 

Kven  when  they  bring  us  gifts."     As  thus  he  spoke, 

With  all  his  strength  he  hurled  a  mighty  spear 

Against  its  side  and  belly  rounded  firm 

With  jointed  timbers.      Quivering  'neath  the  blow 

It  stood,  and  all  the  caverns  of  its  womb 

Resounded  with  a  roar,  h  And  if  the  fates 

Divine  had  favored,  and  a  serious  mind  been  ours, 

He  would  have  then  impelled  us  to  destroy 

With  arms  the  hiding-places  of  the  Greeks; 

And  Troy  would  now  be  standing,  and  thou  saved, 

O  lofty  citadel  of  Priam  ! 

Lo, 
Meanwhile  the  Trojan  shepherds  with  loud  cries 
Dragged  to  the  king  a  young  man  tightly  bound 
W  ith  hands  behind  his  back,  who,  quite  unknovs  n 
To  them,  surrendered  of  his  own  accord  ; 
(W  ith  the  design  to  open  to  the  Greeks 
The  gates  of  Troy,  and,  resolute  of  will, 
'  Either  to  use  deceit,  or  encounter  death.) 


6S 


75 


So 


48  The  Aineid. 

Eager  to  see,  from  every  quarter  rush, 

In  a  tumultuous  throng,  the  Trojan  youths, 

And  vie  in  insults  on  the  captive.     Now 

Hear  what  the  treachery  of  the  Grecians  was,  9° 

And  from  one  crime  learn  all.     For  while  he  stood, 

Troubled,  defenceless,  in  the  sight  of  all, 

And  gazed  around  upon  the  Trojan  bands  ; 

"Alas,"  he  said,  "what  land  now,  or  what  sea 

Can  harbor  me  ?     Or  what  remains  for  me,  95 

Unhappy  wretch,  for  whom  there  is  no  place 

Among  the  Greeks,  and  upon  whom  besides 

The  vengeful  Trojans  seek  a  bloody  death  !  " 

At  this  lamenting  groan  our  minds  are  changed, 

And  every  violent  impulse  checked  at  once.  100 

We  ask  him  then  to  tell  us  of  what  race 

He  comes,  and  what  he  has  to  say  ;  how  far 

We  may  put  faith  in  him,  a  captive.     He, 

Fear  at  length  laid  aside,  addressed  us  thus:  — 

"  To  thee,  O  king,  whatever  the  result  ">s 

May  be,  I  will  confess  the  truth  entire; 

Nor  shall  deny  I  am  by  birth  a  Greek. 

This  first.      For  if  Sinon  has  been  wretched  made 

Bv  fortune  hard,  not  therefore  was  he  made 


Book   ii. 


49 


Faithless  and  false.      In  conversation  thou  no 

Perchance  hast  heard  the  name  and  famous  deeds 
Of  Palamedes,  of  the  line  of  Belus; 

Whom,  innocent,  accused  of  treachery, 
And  by  false  witnesses,  the  Greeks  condemned 
To  death,  because  he  had  opposed  the  war.  115 

But  now  they  mourn  for  him,  his  light  being  gone. 
My  father,  who  was  poor,  and  near  of  kin, 
Sent  me  as  his  companion  to  the  war 
To  attend  him,  from  the  earliest  years  of  youth. 
As  long  as  he  stood  firm  in  princely  power,  no 

And  flourished  in  the  councils  of  the  kings, 
I  too  somewhat  of  name  and  honor  bore. 
Hut  afterward,  —  I  speak  of  things  well  known, — 
When  by  the  plausible  Ulysses'  hate, 

He  from  these  upper  realms  of  earth  went  down,  125 

In  gloom  and  grief  I  dragged  my  life  along, 
Afflicted  and  indignant  at  the  fate 
Of  him,  my  guiltless  friend.      Nor  did  I  hold 
My  peace,  fool  that  I  was,  but  vowed  revenge, 
If  chance  in  any  way  should  favor  me,  13^ 

And  to  mv  native  Areos  I  should  e'er 
Return  victorious ;  and  with  words  I  stirred 
Fierce  hatred.      Hence  came  ruin's  first  plague-spot. 
7 


50  The  Alneid. 

For  from  this  time,  with  accusations  new 

Ulysses  ever  sought  to  frighten  me,  135 

And  spread  ambiguous  rumors  through  the  crowd  ; 

And,  conscious  of  his  guilt,  sought  armed  defence. 

Nor  did  he  rest,  until  by  Calchas'  means  — 

But  why  should  I  recall  these  painful  themes 

In  vain  ?  or  why  detain  you,  if  you  deem  140 

That  all  the  Greeks  are  fashioned  in  one  mould, 

And  to  hear  this  is  proof  enough  for  you  ? 

Now  then  at  once  inflict  your  punishment. 

Ulysses  wishes  this,  and  Atreus'  sons 

Will  well  reward  it." 

We  then  eagerly,  145 

With  many  questions,  seek  to  know  the  grounds 
Of  his  assertions,  unaware  of  all 
His  villany  and  Grecian  artifice. 
He  tremblingly  went  on,  with  words  of  guile:  — 
"  Full  oft  the  Greeks  sought  to  contrive  their  flight,       15° 
And,  weary  of  long  war,  abandon  Troy. 
Would  that  they  had  !     Oft  did  the  tempest  rough 
Upon  the  sea  prevent,  and  southern  winds 
Deter  them  going;   and  especially 

When  now  this  horse  stood  there,  with  wooden  beams  155 
Constructed,  —  then  through  all  the  sky  the  clouds 


Book   xl  5 1 

P  aled  with  their  thunders.     In  suspense,  we  sent 

Eurypylus  to  consult  the  oracle 

Of  Phcebusj   he  from  its  recesses  brought 

For  answer  these  sad  words:   'O  Greeks  when  first        j^o 

Ye  came  unto  these  shores,  ye  pacified 

The  winds  with  blood,  and  with  a  virgin  slain. 

Even  so  through  blood  must  your  return  be  sought, 

Propitiating  heaven  with  Grecian  life.' 

When  to  the  people's  ears  this  answer  came,  165 

All  were  struck  dumb,  and  through  our  limbs  there  ran 

A  tremor  cold,  thinking  to  whom  this  thing 

Might  come,  and  whom  Apollo  might  demand. 

Forth  then  Ulysses  drags  into  the  midst, 

With  loud  uproar,  Calchas  the  priest,  and  asks  170 

What  in  such  case  the  deities  might  will. 

And  many  persons  now  presaged  to  me 

This  artful  schemer's  cruel  wickedness, 

And  quietly  foresaw  the  event  to  come. 

The  priest  for  ten  days  held  his  peace,  and  still  175 

Refused,  dissembling,  to  name  any  one, 

As  doomed  to  death.     At  length  reluctantly 

Driven  by  the  clamors  of  the  Ithacan, 

He  breaks  his  silence,  and,  as  was  agreed, 

He  destines  me  to  the  altar.      All  assent.  180 


5  2  The   Aineid. 

And  what  each  one  was  fearing  for  himself, 

Turned  to  the  ruin  of  one  wretched  man, 

They  patiently  endure.      And  now  had  come 

The  dreadful  day,  the  sacred  rites  prepared, 

The  salted  meal,  the  fillets  round  my  brows :  —  185 

I  broke  away  from  death  ;   I  snapped  my  chains; 

And  in  a  miry  swamp  I  lay  all  night 

Hidden,  and  screened  from  view  by  long  marsh  grass, 

Till  they  should  spread  (if  haply  so  they  should) 

Their  sails  unto  the  wind.      But  now  for  me  19° 

There  is  no  hope  to  see  my  native  land, 

Nor  my  sweet  children,  nor  my  father  dear, 

Whom  they  will  yet,  perhaps,  for  my  escape, 

Demand  for  punishment,  and  this  offence 

Of  mine  will  expiate  by  the  death  of  those  195 

Unhappy  ones.     Therefore  I  thee  entreat, 

By  the  supernal  powers,  and  deities 

Conscious  of  truth,  —  by  unviolated  faith, — 

If  such  there  be  remaining  still  with  man, — 

Pity  these  woes  of  mine,  —  pity  a  soul  200 


Deserving  not  such  sufferings  as  these." 


Moved  by  his  tears,  we  granted  him  his  life, 
And  freely  pitied  him.      Priam  himself 


Book  n. 

First  of  all  gave  commands  to  take  away 
His  tetters,  and  remove  the  knotted  cords,  205 

And  saul  in  friendly  tones:   "Whoe'er  thou  art, 
Henceforth  forget  the  Greeks  whom  thou  hast  lost; 

one  oi    us  ;   and  truly  tell  the  things 
That  I  shall  ask  of  thee.      With  what  design 
Have  they  constructed  this  gigantic  horse?  210 

W  ho  its  inventor?      What  do  they  intend? 
Is  it  religious  in  its  aim,  or  is  't 

An  engine  framed  for  war?"     He  said.     The  man, 
Skilled  in  deceit  and  Grecian  artifice, 

Raised  his  unlettered  hands  toward  the  stars.  215 

"  W  itness,"  he  cried,  "eternal  fires  of  heaven, 
In  your  inviolable  divinity! 
And  you,  ye  altars,  and  ye  dreadful  knives, — 
Ye  sacred  fillets  I,  a  victim,  wore, — 

Be  it  right  for  me  to  break  the  hallowed  ties  220 

That  bound  me  to  the  Greeks!  —  Be  it  right  for  me 
To  hate  these  men,  and  bring  their  crimes  to  light, 
It  any  they  conceal  !     Nor  am  I  now 
Bound  by  my  country's  laws.      Onlv  do  thou 
Remain  true  to  thy  promise,  and,  Troy  saved, 
Keep  faith  with  me,  if  I  disclose  the  truth, 
And  largely  pay  thee  back  what  thou  hast  done. 


54  The  sEneid. 


*/ 


The  whole  hope  of  the  Greeks,  and  confidence 

I'  the  war  commenced,  stood  always  on  the  aid 

Of  Pallas.      From  the  time  when  Diomed  23° 

With  impious  hand,  and  the  author  of  these  crimes, 

Ulysses,  —  for  't  was  they  who  did  the  deed, — 

Having  determined  to  remove  by  force 

Her  fatal  image,  the  Palladium, 

Out  from  the  hallowed  temple,  —  having  slain  235 

The  guardians  of  the  lofty  citadel, 

They  snatched  away  the  sacred  effigy, 

And  with  their  bloody  hands  presumed  to  touch 

The  virgin  fillets  of  the  goddess :  —  then, 

E'en  from  that  time,  the  Greeks  began  to  lose  240 

Their  hopes,  which,  slipping  backward,  flowed  away, — 

Their  strength  all  broken,  and  the  deity 

Averse.      Nor  did  Tritonia  indicate 

These  things  by  doubtful  prodigies ;   for  scarce 

Had  they  deposited  within  their  camp  245 

The  image,  when  from  her  wide-open  eyes 

Flashed    gleaming    flames,    and    through    her   limbs   salt 

sweat 
Exuded  ;   and  three  times  from  off  the  ground  — 
Wonderful  to  relate!  —  she  leapt,  with  shield 
And  quivering  spear.      Calchas  forthwith  announced       250 


Book   ii.  5  5 

That  we  should  seek  the  sea  in  flight ;   nor  could 

The  Grecian  forces  conquer  Troy,  unless 

At  Argos  they  renewed  the  auspices, 

And  brought  the  goddess  back,  now  borne  away 

By  them,  in  their  curved  ships,  across  the  sea.  255 

And  now  that  to  Mycenae  they  are  bound, 

Anns  they  prepare  to  bring,  and  guardian  gods; 

And,  the  sea  crossed  again,  will  soon  be  here. 

Thus  Calchas  read  the  omens  ;  and  so  warned, 

They  built  in  place  of  the  Palladium,  »6o 

And  of  the  violated  deity, 

This  image,  to  atone  for  their  foul  crime. 

'T  was  Calchas  who  commanded  them  to  raise 

This  mass  enormous,  with  strong  timbers  laced, 

And  build  it  of  a  towering  height,  too  large  265 

To  be  received  into  your  city's  gates, 

And  so  protect  you  with  the  ancient  faith. 

For  if  your  hands  should  ever  violate 

Minerva's  offering,  ruin  immense  would  come 

(Which  omen  may  the  gods  first  turn  upon  270 

The  seer  himself!)   to  Priam's  realm,  and  all 

The  Phrygians;   but  if  by  your  hands  this  horse 

Should  mount  into  your  city,  Asia  then, 

Unchallenged,  would  advance  to  Pelops'  walls 


5  6  The  Alneid. 

In  mighty  war,  and  our  posterity  27s 

Experience  these  fates." 

With  treachery 
Like  this,  and  artful  perjury,  the  tale 
Of  the  false  Sinon  was  believed  by  us, — 
Caught  by  his  wiles,  and  by  the  tears  he  forced,  — 
Whom  neither  Diomed,  nor  Larissa's  chief,  280 

Achilles,  nor  ten  years,  nor  a  thousand  ships 
Could  conquer. 

Here  another  dire  event 
More  dreadful  far  befalls,  disturbing  us, 
Wretched  and  unprepared,  with  gloomy  thoughts. 
Laocoon,  chosen  Neptune's  priest  by  lot,  285 

A  huge  bull  at  the  solemn  altars  there 
Was  sacrificing,  when  behold,  two  snakes  — 
I  shudder  as  I  tell  —  from  Tenedos 
Come  gliding  on  the  deep,  with  rings  immense, 
Pressing  upon  the  sea,  and  side  by  side  29° 

Toward  the  shore  they  move  with  necks  erect, 
And  bloody  crests  that  tower  above  the  waves ; 
Their  other  parts  behind  sweeping  the  sea, 
With  huge  backs  winding  on  in  sinuous  folds. 
A  noise  of  foaming  brine  is  heard.     And  now  295 

They  reach  the  shores,  their  burning  eyes  suffused 


Book   ii.  S7 

With  blood  and  fire,  and  lick  their  hissing  mouths 
With  quivering  tongues,    j  We,  pale  with  terror,  ily. 
But  they  with  steady  pace  Laocoon  seek. 
First  the  two  bodies  oi   his  little  sons  303 

Each  serpent  twines  about,  with  tightening  folds, 
And*  bites  into  their  miserable  limbs. 
Then  him,  as  he  with  help  and  weapons  comes, 
They  seize,  and  bind  him  in  their  mighty  spires; 
Twice  round  the  middle,  twice  around  his  neck,  3°5 

Twisting,  with  scaly  backs,  they  raise  on  high 
Their  heads  and  lofty  necks.     He  with  his  hands 
Strains  to  untwine  the  knots,  his  fillets  wet 
With  gore  and  poison  black.      His  dreadful  shrieks 
Rise  to  the  stars  :  —  such  groans  as  when  a  bull 
Flies  from  the  altar  wounded,  and  shakes  free 
His  forehead  from  the  ill-aimed  axe.      But  they, 
The  dragons,  slip  away  to  the  lofty  shrine 
And  citadel  of  cruel  PallagTTl  mere. 
Beneath  the  goddess'  feet  and  orbed  shield,  3'5 

They  hide.     Then  verily  a  new  fear  creeps 
Into  the  trembling  hearts  of  all.      They  said 
Laocoon  paid  the  penalty  deserved 
Of  crime,  for  having  with  his  steel  profaned 
The  sacred  wood,  when  he  had  hurled  his  spear  3*° 

8 


310 


58  The  Aineid. 

Against  the  horse.     And  now  all  cry  aloud 

To  take  the  image  to  its  rightful  seat, 

And  supplicate  the  goddess.     We  divide     f 

The  walls,  and  open  lay  the  battlements. 

All  for  the  work  prepare.     Beneath  the  feet  345 

We  lay  smooth  rollers,  and  around  the  neck 

Strain  hempen  ropes.     The  terrible  machine 

Passes  the  walls,  filled  full  with  armed  men. 

Around,  the  youths  and  the  unwedded  maids 

Sing  sacred  songs,  rejoicing  when  they  touch  330 

Their  hands  against  the  ropes.     Onward  it  moves, 

And  threatening  glides  into  the  city's  midst. 

Alas,  my  country  !   Ilium,  home  of  gods ! 

Dardanian  battlements  renowned  in  war  ! 

Four  times,  e'en  at  the  threshold  of  the  gate,  335 

It  stopped  :   four  times  we  heard  the  noise  of  arms 

Ring  from  the  depths  within.     Yet  on  we  press, 

Thoughtless  of  omens,  blind  with  furious  zeal, 

And  in  the  sacred  citadel  we  lodge 

The  fatal  monster.     And  now  Cassandra  opes  3-p 

Her.  lips,  —  that  by  the  deity's  command 

Should  never  be  believed  by  Trojan  ears, — 

And  prophesies  to  us  our  future  fates. 

We,  miserable,  unto  whom  this  day 


Bbok   ii.  59 

Was  doomed  to  be  our  last,  hang  on  our  shrii 
Throughout  the  city,  wreaths  of  festive  leaves. 
Meanwhile,  with  changing  sky  night  comes  apace 
Upon  the  ocean,  wrapping  with  wide  shade 
Earth,  sky,  and  crafty  wiles  oi~  Myrmidons. 
The  Trojans,  scattered  through  the  town,  are  still, 
For  sleep  embraces  every  weary  frame. 

And  now-  the  Grecian  hosts  were  moving  on 

From  Tenedos,  their  ships  in  order  ranged, 

Beneath  the  friendly  silence  of  the  moon, 

Toward  the  well-known  shores,  soon  as  appeared  355 

The  blazing  signal  from  the  royal  ship. 

Defended  by  the  adverse  deities, 

Sinon  unbars  the  wooden  prison  doors, 

And  secretlv  lets  loose  the  hidden  Greeks. 

The  horse  stands  open  wide,  and  to  the  air  360 

Restores  them.     Joyful  from  the  hollow  wood 

They  leap,  —  Tisandrus,  Sthenelus,  their  chiefs, 

And  fierce  Ulysses,  sliding  down  a  rope. 

And  with  them  Acamas  and  Thoas  come, 

And  Peleus'  offspring,  Neoptolemus,  365 

Machaon  leading;   Menelaus  too, 

And  e'en  Epeus,  inventor  of  the  fraud. 


60  -  The  sEneid. 

They  invade  the  city  sunk  in  sleep  and  wine. 

The  guards  are  slain  ;   their  comrades  they  receive 

With  opened  gates,  and  join  the  expectant  bands.  370 

It  was  the  hour  when  first  their  sleep  begins 

For  wretched  mortals,  and  most  gratefully 

Creeps  over  them,  by  bounty  of  the  gods. 

Then  in  my  dreams,  behold,  Hector  appeared, 

Distinctly  present ;  very  sad  he  was,  375 

And  weeping  floods  of  tears.     So  once  he  looked, 

Dragged  by  the  chariot  wheels,  and  black  with  dust 

And  blood,  his  swollen  feet  pierced  through  with  thongs. 

Ah  me,  that  face  !     How  changed  he  was  from  him, 

The  Hector  who  returned  clothed  in  the  spoils  3So 

Won  from  Achilles,  or  when  he  had  hurled 

The  Phrygian  fires  against  the  Grecian  ships! 

But  now  the  squalid  beard  he  wore,  and  hair 

Matted  with  blood,  and  the  wounds  he  took  when  dragged 

Around  the  city's  walls.     Weeping  myself,  3ss 

I  seemed  to  address  him  of  my  own  accord, 

And  to  draw  out  these  melancholy  words  :  — 

"  O  light  of  Troy  !   the  Trojans'  surest  hope  ! 

Why  hast  thou  stayed  so  long?     And  from  what  shores, 

O  long-expected  Hector,  dost  thou  come? 


Book  if.  6 1 

That  now  again,  after  so  main-  deaths 

Among  thy  countrymen,  ami  sufferings  borne 

So  varied,  we,  exhausted  with  the  war, 

Behold  thee  here?     What  undeserved  cause 

Distorts  thy  lace  serene?     And  why  these  wounds?"     395 

Hut  he  made  no  reply,  and  took  no  heed 

Of  idle  questions,  but  with  a  heavy  groan 

Fetched  from  the  bottom  of  his  breast:  —  "Ah,  nV, 

Thou  goddess-born,"  he  said,  "  fly  from  these  flames  ! 

The  enemy  holds  the  walls.     Troy  rushes  down 

From  her  high  pinnacle.      Enough  is  done 

For  Priam  and  our  country.      If  right  hand 

Could  have  defended  Troy,  mine  't  would  have  been 

That  so  defended.     Troy  to  thee  commends 

Her  sacred  rites  and  household  gods.     These  take,  405 

Companions  of  thy  fates.     With  these  go  seek 

The  mighty  citv  thou  one  day  shalt  found 

At  last,  after  thy  wanderings  o'er  the  sea." 

He  said  ;   and  from  their  secret  inner  crypts 

Great  Vesta's  fillets  and  her  statue  brought,  -;■ 

And  the  undying  fire  from  out  her  shrines. 

Meanwhile,  with  many  a  lamentable  cry 
The  city  is  confused.      And  more  and  more, 


62 


The   Aineid. 


Although  my  sire  Anchises'  house  stood  far 

Away,  hid  and  secluded  'mid  the  trees,  415 

The  noise  grew  loud,  and  all  the  horrible  clang 

Of  arms  increased.      Starting  from  sleep,  I  gain 

With  swift  ascent  the  house-top's  loftiest  verge, 

And  stand  and  listen  with  arrected  ears. 

As  when  the  flames  are  raging  through  the  corn,  4*> 

Driven  by  the  furious  winds ;  —  or  a  mountain  stream, 

Swollen  to  a  rapid  torrent,  floods  the  fields, 

And  desolates  the  smiling  crops,  and  all 

The  labors  of  the  oxen,  and  drags  down 

The  forests;  and  the  unconscious  shepherd  stands  4-5 

Listening  upon  the  peak  of  some  high  rock, 

Bewildered  by  the  rushing  noise  below. 

Then  verily  the  false  faith  of  the  Greeks 

Is  manifest,  —  their  treacherous  arts  revealed. 

Down  falls  the  palace  of  Deiphobus  430 

Amid  the  conquering  flames;   Ucalegon 

Next  burns.     The  broad  Sigean  waves  reflect 

The  fiery  glow.     And  shouts  of  men  are  heard, 

And  blare  of  trumpets.     Wildly  I  seize  my  arms ;  — 

Although  for  arms  there  seemed  but  little  use.  435 

But  still  I  burned  to  gather  a  small  band, 

And  with  my  comrades  to  the  citadel 


Book  il  63 

Rush  on;  for  rage  ami  fury  hurried  me. 
A  glorious  thing  it  seemed  to  me  to  die 
In  arms.  L^ 

But  now,  behold,  Panthus,  escaped  440 

From  Grecian  spears,  —  Panthus  Othryades, 
Priest  of  Apollo  in  the  citadel, 
Comes  hurrying  by,  and  bearing  in  his  hands 
The  sacred  vessels  and  the  vanquished  gods; 
He  leads  his  little  grandson  by  the  hand,  445 

And  wildly  to  my  threshold  bends  his  steps. 
"  What  fortune,  Panthus?     On  what  citadel 
Do  we  now  seize  ?  "     I  scarce  had  said  the  words, 
When,  groaning  deeply,  he  this  answer  made  :  — 
"Our  last  day  comes,  —  the  inevitable  hour  45^ 

Of  Troy.     Trojans  no  more  are  we.     Gone  now 
Is  Troy,  and  all  our  glory  !      Cruel  Jove 
To  Argos  now  transfers  the  imperial  rule. 
O'er  all  the  burning  town  the  Greeks  hold  sway. 
The  towering  horse  stands  in  the  city's  midst,  45s 

And  pours  out  armed  men.     Sinon  himself, 
Exulting,  spreads  the  flames.      And  others  throng 
The  open  gates;  as  many  thousands  come 
As  e'er  from  mighty  Greece.     Others  oppose 
Our  ranks,  and  barricade  the  narrow  streets.  460 


64  The   Aineid. 

The  gleaming  swords  are  drawn,  for  death's  dread  work 

Prepared.     The  foremost  wardens  of  the  gates 

Scarce  risk  a  contest,  with  resistance  blind." 

Fired  by  his  words,  and  by  a  power  divine, 

Through  flames  and  arms  I  am  borne  along,  where'er    465 

The  sad  Erinnys  points,  where'er  the  din 

Of  battle  and  the  ascending  clamor  calls. 

Rhipeus  then,  and  Epytus,  in  arms 

Excelling,  join  us,  by  the  moonlight  seen; 

And  Hypanis  and  Dymas  on  our  side  470 

Gather,  and  young  Corcebus,  Mygdon's  son. 

He  in  those  latter  days  to  Troy  had  come, 

Wooing  Cassandra  with  delirious  love, 

Hoping  to  bring  a  future  son-in-law 

To  Priam,  and  assistance  bear  to  him  475 

And  to  the  Trojans;   but  who,  hapless  youth, 

Regarded  not  the  warnings  of  his  bride 

Inspired.      Whom  when  I  saw  in  order  ranged, 

Ready  for  battle,  thus  to  them  I  spoke  :  — 

"  O  warriors,  gallant  hearts,  who  dare  in  vain  !  480 

If  yours  the  strong  desire  to  follow  me 

Venturing  extremest  things,  —  ye  see  how  stands 

The  fortune  of  affairs ;  for  all  the  gods 

By  whom  our  empire  stood  have  gone  from  us, 


Book    ii.  65 

Their  secret  places  and  their  altars  left.  485 

You  help  a  burning  city.     Let  us  die, 

And  plunge  into  the  middle  of  the  right. 
The  only  safety  of  the  vanquished  is 
To  hope  tor  none."      Thus  were  the  warriors'  hearts 
Kindled  with  added  rage.      As  ravenous  wolves  49° 

In  cloudy  darkness  driven  by  hunger  fierce, 
Leaving  their  whelps  behind,  with  dry  throats  seek 
Their  prey;   so  through  the  javelins  and  the  foes 
We  rush  to  no  uncertain  death,  and  hold 
Our  way  into  the  city's  midst.      Black  night  495 

Hovers  around  us  with  her  hollow  shade. 
Who  can  describe  the  carnage  of  that  night  ? 
Down  falls  the  ancient  city,  having  ruled 
So  many  years;   and  everywhere  struck  down 
Lay  many  an  unresisting  corpse  along  5°° 

The  streets,  and  through  the  houses,  and  beside 
The  sacred  thresholds  of  the  deities. 
Nor  do  the  Trojans  only  suffer  death. 
Courage  returns  e'en  to  our  vanquished  hearts, 
And  in  their  turn  the  conquering  Greeks  are  slain.  s°s 

And  everywhere  are  sounds  of  bitter  grief, 
And  terror  everywhere,  and  shapes  of  death. 
9 


66  The  Aineid. 

And  first,  attended  by  a  numerous  band 

Of  Greeks,  Androgeus  meets  us,  thinking  we 

Are  of  his  side,  and  thus  with  friendly  words  510 

Salutes  us :   "  Hasten,  men  !     What  sluggishness 

Is  this?     While  others  plunder  blazing  Troy, 

Are  you  just  coming  from  our  ships  ?  "      He  said  ; 

And  all  at  once,  —  for  we  no  answer  made 

Which  he  could  trust,  —  he  saw  that  he  had  fallen         s»s 

Among  his  foes.     Dumb  with  astonishment, 

His  footsteps  and  his  voice  he  alike  repressed. 

As  when  a  man  who  walks  through  tangled  paths 

Treads  on  a  hidden  snake,  and  trembling  flies 

Back  from  the  reptile  lifting  up  its  head  s« 

In  anger,  and  its  blue  and  swelling  neck  ; 

Even  so  Androgeus,  starting,  backward  shrinks. 

Forward  we  rush,  and  pour  around,  and  charge 

In  dense  array  upon  them,  ignorant 

Of  all  the  ground,  and  overcome  by  fear,  5-5 

And  strike  them  down.     At  this  first  work  achieved, 

The  breath  of  fortune  favors  us.     But  here 

Corcebus,  all  exultant  with  success 

And  courage,  cries  :   "  O  comrades,  whereto  soon 

Fortune  the  way  of  safety  points,  and  where  53° 

She  shews  herself  propitious,  let  us  follow. 


Book   11 \  67 

Let  us  change  shields,  and  wear  upon  ourselves 

The  Grecian  badges.     Whether  we  make  use 

0(  stratagem  or  valor,  who  inquires, 

In  dealing  with  an  enemy?     They  themselves  53s 

Supply  these  anus."      And  having  said  the.se  words, 

lie  donned  the  long-haired  helmet,  and  the  shield 

Wondrous  for  beauty,  that  Androgeus  wore; 

And  at  his  side  he  hung  the  Grecian  sword. 

So  likewise  did  Rhipeus,  Dymas  too,  54= 

And  all  the  youths,  right  gayly;   every  one 

Arming  himself  with  recent  spoils.     And  thus, 

Mixed  with  the  Greeks  we  go,  'neath  auspices 

Not  ours ;   and  meeting  with  the  foe,  we  engage 

In  many  battles  through  the  dark  blind  night,  545 

And  to  the  lower  world  send  many  a  Greek. 

Some  to  their  ships  escape,  and  trusty  shores  ; 

And  others  scale  again  the  lofty  horse, 

Smit  with  base  fear.      Alas,  one  ought 

To  trust  in  nothing,  when  the  gods  oppose.  ss° 

Lo,  Priam's  virgin  daughter,  borne  along, 

(      sandra,  with  her  hair  unbound,  and  dragged 

From  Pallas'  temple,  and  her  inmost  shrines, 

Raises  to  heaven  her  burning  eyes  in  vain  :  — 

Her  eyes,  —  for  they  have  bound  her  tender  hands. 


68 


The   sEneid. 


560 


565 


This  sight  Coroebus  could  not  bear,  but,  wild 

And  maddened,  throws  himself,  resolved  to  die, 

Into  the  middle  of  the  hostile  band. 

We  follow  all,  and  charge  in  close  array. 

Here  from  the  temple's  lofty  roof  at  first 

We  are  o'erpowered  by  weapons  of  our  men  ; 

And  dreadful  slaughter  follows  the  mistake 

Caused  by  our  armor  and  our  Grecian  crests. 

Also  the  Greeks,  groaning  with  rage  to  see 

The  virgin  snatched  away,  from  all  sides  throng 

To  attack  us, —  terrible  Ajax,  the  two  sons 

Of  Atreus,  and  the  Dolopes  with  all 

Their  army.     As  when  opposing  winds  conflict 

In  rushing  hurricane,  Zephyrus,  Notus  rush, 

And  Eurus,  jubilant  with  his  Eastern  steeds, — 

The  forests  groan,  and  foaming  Nereus  raves, 

And  with  his  trident  lashes  all  the  sea 

From  lowest  depths;   so  they  —  whom  in  the  dark 

We  by  our  stratagems  had  put  to  flight, 

And  driven  through  all  the  town  —  appear.    They  first  575 

Our  shields  and  our  false  weapons  recognize; 

And  next  they  note  our  difference  of  speech. 

At  once  we  are  overwhelmed  ;  —  Coroebus  first, 

By  Peneleus'  hand  laid  low,  before 


570 


Boo/,-   n. 

The  altar  of  the  warrior  goddess  ;    next  58° 

Rhipeus,  oi   all  Trojans  most  upright 

And  just:  — such  was  the  pleasure  of  the  gods! 

And  Hypanis  and  Dymas  die,  pierced  through 

By  their  own  friends;   nor  thee,  ()  Panthus,  did 

Thy  piety  nor  sacred  mitre  shield  585 

From  death.     Ye  Trojan  ashes,  and  ye  last 

Expiring  Barnes  of  my  own  countrymen  ! 

Witness  that  when  you  tell,  I  neither  shunned 

The  weapons  of  the  Greeks,  nor  any  risks 

Of  conflict;  and  if  fate  had  so  decreed  59° 

That  I  had  fallen,  I  should  have  merited 

My  doom,  for  what  I  did  !     Thence  we  are  forced 

Away  and  scattered.      Iphitus  with  me 

And  Pelias  remain  ;   but  Iphitus 

Enfeebled  by  his  age,  and  Pelias  595 

Retarded  by  a  wound  Ulysses  dealt. 

Far  off,  we  are  summoned  by  the  clamorous  cries 

To  Priam's  palace.      Here  a  battle  raged 

So  tierce,  it  seemed  as  if  no  other  war 

Were  waged,  nor  through  the  city  any  deaths 

Were  known  elsewhere;  so  furious  a  tight 

W  e  bee,  —  the  Greeks  against  the  palace  rushing, — 

The  threshold  by  a  roof  of  shields  besieged,  — 


70  The   Alneid. 

The  scaling  ladders  clinging  to  the  walls. 

Beneath  the  very  portals  they  ascend  605 

Upon  the  steps ;  with  their  left  hands  oppose 

Their  shields  against  the  missiles  from  above, 

While  with  their  right  they  grasp  the  battlements. 

On  the  other  hand  the  Trojans,  tearing  up 

The  turrets  and  the  roofs,  with  these  prepare  610 

A  last  defence,  since  now  they  see  that  death 

Is  imminent.     The  gilded  rafters  down 

They  roll,  and  all  the  lofty  ornaments 

Of  ancient  sires ;   while  others  with  drawn  swords 

Block  up  and  guard  the  doors,  in  phalanx  close.  615 

Courage  restored,  we  hasten  to  defend 

The  palace  of  the  king,  and  by  our  aid 

Relieve  with  added  strength  our  men  o'erpowered. 

There  was  an  entrance  and  a  private  door 

(jiving  free  passage  between  Priam's  walls, —  620 

A  postern  gate,  that  stood  neglected  there, 

Through  which  ofttimes  the  sad  Andromache 

Was  wont  to  go,  when  she  her  husband's  sire 

And  mother  visited,  and  led  along 

With  her  her  boy  Astyanax.     Through  this  625 

I  gain  the  summit  of  the  roof,  from  which 


Bt>ok   n.  ji 

The  wretched  Trojans  hurled  their  useless  shafts. 
Here  a  steep  turret  rising  from  the  roofj 

And  towering  in  the  starlight,  whence  all  Troy 

Was  seen,  and  all  the  well-known  Grecian  ships  630 

And  the  Achaian  camps, — around  its  walls 

With  iron  implements  we  work,  just  where 

The  highest  flooring  offers  loosening  joints, 

And  wrench  it  from  its  ancient  base,  and  push, 

Till,  slipping  suddenly,  with  thundering  crash  635 

And  ruin  downward  dragged,  upon  the  bands 

Of  Greeks  it  falls,  with  desolation  wide. 

But  others  come  beneath.     Nor  do  we  cease 

To  hurl  down  stones  and  missiles  of  all  sorts.' 

And  now  before  the  vestibule  itself,  640 

And  at  the  outer  door,  Pyrrhus  exults, 

Flashing  with  weapons  and  the  brazen  light 

Of  armor.     So  in  the  sun  a  serpent  gleams, 

Which  having  fed  on  noxious  herbs,  and  lain 

Swollen  in  the  earth,  protected  by  the  frost,  645 

Now  casting  off  its  slough,  and  bright  with  youth, 

Lifts  up  its  head,  and  rolls  with  slippery  back 

Toward  the  sun,  with  quivering  three-forked  tongue. 

With  him  huge  Periphas,  and  Automedon 

His  armor-bearer,  of  Achilles'  steeds  650 


72  The  JEneid. 

Once  charioteer;  and  all  the  Scyran  youth 

Throng  to  the  palace,  hurling  to  the  roof 

Their  brands.     Pyrrhus  himself,  among  the  first, 

Seizing  an  axe,  breaks  through  the  stubborn  door, 

And  tears  the  brazen  pillars  from  the  hinge ;  655 

And  cutting  through  the  panels  and  the  beams, 

Hollows  an  opening  like  a  window  large; 

And  all  the  inner  house  is  seen,  and  all 

The  extended  halls  laid  bare,  and  inmost  rooms 

Of  Priam  and  the  ancient  kings ;  and  there  660 

Armed  men  are  standing  at  the  very  door. 

But  all  the  interior  rooms  with  sounds  confused 

Of  groans  and  dreadful  tumult  rang.     Within 

The  hollow  halls  resounded  with  the  shrieks 

Of  women ;  and  the  wailing  seemed  to  strike  665 

The  golden  stars.     Then  through  the  palace  wide 

Went  trembling  matrons  wandering,  while  they  clasped 

And  kissed  the  door-posts.     With  his  father's  strength 

Pvrrhus  comes  pressing  on.      Nor  bars  avail, 

Nor  guards,  against  him.     With  his  battering-ram  670 

By  frequent  blows  the  trembling  doors  give  way, 

And  from  the  hinges  jarred,  down  fall  the  posts. 

A  breach  is  made.     In  rush  the  Greeks,  and  slay 


Book   ii.  73 

The  first  they  meet;   and  all  the  halls  are  filled 
With  soldiery.     So  a  foaming  river  hursts 
Away  from  its  embankments,  sweeping  down 

With  turbulent  vortex  the  opposing  mounds, 

And  raging  through  the  fields,  drags  down  the  herds 

With  all  their  stalls.      With  mine  own  eyes  I  saw, 

Furious  tor  slaughter,  Neoptolemus 

And  the  Atrida-  twain  before  the  gate. 

And  Hecuba  I  saw,  and  the  hundred  wives 

Wed  to  her  sons ;  and  Priam,  soiled  with  blood, 

Before  the  altars  he  himself  had  blessed. 

Also  those  fifty  nuptial  chambers,  —  hope  6s5 

Of  future  offspring  ;   and  the  pillars  rich 

With  spoils  and  with  barbaric  gold,  o'erthrown. 

And  the  Greeks  held  whate'er  the  flames  had  spared. 

Perhaps  thou  wilt  inquire  of  Priam's  fate. 

Soon  as  he  saw  the  captured  city's  doom,  690 

His  palace-gates  torn  down,  the  enemy 

Within  his  inmost  rooms,  the  aged  king 

Puts  on  his  armor  long  disused,  in  vain 

Casing  his  trembling  limbs  ;  his  useless  sword 

Girt  at  his  side  ;   and  goes  to. meet  his  foes,  695 

Resolved  to  die.      Within  the  palace  court, 


10 


74  The   yEneid. 

Beneath  the  bare  sky  stood  an  altar  large, 

Near  which  an  ancient  laurel  overhung 

And  sheltered  the  Penates  with  its  shade. 

Here,  round  about  the  altars,  Hecuba  7°° 

Sat  with  her  daughters,  like  a  flock  of  doves 

By  a  dark  tempest  driven  swift  to  earth,  — 

Crowding  together,  all  in  vain,  —  and  held 

In  their  embrace  the  statues  of  their  gods. 

But  when  she  saw  Priam  himself  arrayed  70s 

In  youthful  arms,  "  What  dire  intent,"  she  said, 

"  Unhappy  husband,  bids  thee  take  these  arms  ? 

And  whither  dost  thou  rush  ?     No  help  like  this, 

Nor  such  defenders  doth  the  time  require. 

Even  were  my  Hector  here,  he  could  do  naught.  710 

Yield  now  to  me,  and  hither  come ;  for  here, 

This  altar  will  protect  us  all,  or  else 

We  all  will  die  together  !  "     Saying  this, 

She  drew  the  aged  monarch  to  herself, 

And  placed  him  there  upon  the  sacred  seat.  715 

But  lo  !   escaped  from  Pyrrhus'  murderous  hand, 
Polites,  one  of  Priam's  sons,  has  fled 
Through  the  long  galleries,  past  the  spears  and  foes, 
And,  wounded,  traverses  the  empty  halls. 


Book   ii. 


/  D 


Him,  Pyrrhus  pressing  in  hot  haste  pursues 

With  deadly  weapon  ;     now,  even  now  his  hand 

Holds  him  within  his  grasp,  and  with  hi-^  spear 

Presses  upon  him,  till  he  comes  before 

His  parents'  eyes,  then  falls,  and  bleeding  fast, 

Pours  out  his  life.      But  Priam  now,  although  72s 

An  instant  death  impends,  did  not  refrain, 

Nor  spared  he  voice  or  anger.      "May  the  gods," 

He  cries,  "  if  there  be  justice  in  the  heavens 

That  cares  for  such  things,  make  thee  fit  return 

And  deal  thee  thy  deserts,  for  this  thy  foul  73° 

And  darinir  crime,  —  thou  who  hast  made  me  see 

Before  my  face  the  slaughter  of  my  son, 

And  hast  defiled  with  death  a  father's  sight ! 

But  not  the  Achilles,  from  whom  thou  dost  say 

Falsely  that  thou  art  sprung,  though  Priam's  i'oey  735 

Was  such  as  thou  art ;   for  he  blushed  to  think 

Of  violating  faith  and  common  rights, 

At  my  petition,  but  the  lifeless  corpse 

Ok  Hector  did  restore  for  burial, 

And  sent  me  safely  to  my  kingdom  back." 

Saving  this,  the  old  king  hurled  a  feeble  spear 

That  made  no  wound,  but  from  the  sounding  brass 

Repelled,  hung  harmless  from  the  buckler's  boss. 


J  6  The   Aineid. 

But  Pyrrhus  cried  :   "  Be  thou  the  messenger, 

And  this  to  Peleus'  son  deliver.     Him  745 

Tell  of  degenerate  Neoptolemus, 

And  all  the  cruel  deeds  he  did.     Now  die!  " 

Saying  this,  he  dragged  him  to  the  altar's  foot, 

Staggering  and  slipping  'mid  the  blood  his  son 

Had  shed.     Twisting  his  left  hand  in  his  hair,  750 

He  raised  his  sword  in  his  right,  and  to  the  hilt 

Buried  it  in  his  side.     Such  was  the  end 

Of  Priam's  destinies ;  such  was  his  death 

Ordained  by  fate,  whilst  Troy  he  saw  in  flames 

And  desolation,  —  who  to  many  a  land  755 

And  people,  once,  Asia's  proud  ruler  stood. 

Now  on  the  shore  his  mighty  corpse  is  thrown, 

And  lies  a  headless  trunk  without  a  name. 

Then,  for  the  first  time,  a  dread  horror  fell, 

And  compassed  me  around.     I  stood  aghast ;  760 

And  my  dear  father's  image  came  to  me, 

When  I  beheld  the  king,  as  old  as  he, 

Breathing  his  life  out  'neath  a  cruel  wound  ; 

Creiisa  too  deserted,  and  my  home 

Ravaged,  and  young  lulus'  hapless  lot,  76s 

Came  to  my  mind.     I  looked  around  to  note 


Book   ii.  77 

What  forces  might  remain  ;   and  saw  that  all 
Had  left,  exhausted,  —  either  having  thrown 
Their  wretched  bodies,  leaping,  down  to  earth, 
Or  given  them  to  the  flames. 

So  I  alone  77° 

Remained  ;  —  when,  keeping  close  within  the  door 
Of  Vesta's  temple,  in  a  secret  place 
Close  hiding,  Tyndarus'  daughter  I  espy. 
The  bright  flames  light  my  wandering  steps,  as  round 
I  glance  at  all  things.     She,  the  common  scourge  775 

Of  Trov,  and  her  own  country,  fearing  now 
The  Trojans'  vengeance  at  Troy's  overthrow, 
And  punishment  the  Greeks  might  deal,  and  all 
The  anger  her  deserted  husband  bore, 
Had  hid  herself,  and  at  the  altars  sat,  78° 

A  hated  object.     Fire  raged  in  my  heart, 
And  through  me  ran  an  impulse  to  revenge 
My  falling  country,  and  inflict  on  her 
The  penalty  deserved.     Shall  she,  forsooth, 
In  safety  see  her  Sparta,  and  the  lands  7*s 

Of  Greece,  and  move  like  a  triumphant  queen  ? 
Shall  she  her  husband,  parents,  home  and  sons 
Behold,  attended  by  a  Trojan  troop 
And  Phrygian  slaves?      Shall  Priam  fall  by  the  sword  : 


73 


The   Aineid. 


790 


800 


Shall  Troy  be  burned,  and  all  her  shores  distil 

Dardanian  blood  ?     Not  so.     For  though  there  be 

No  glory  in  a  woman's  punishment, 

Nor  any  praise  in  such  a  victory, 

Yet  shall  I  be  commended  to  have  quenched 

Such  crime;  and  it  will  please  me  to  have  wreaked        795 

My  vengeance,  and  the  ashes  thus  appease 

Of  slaughtered  countrymen.     Such  were  the  thoughts 

My  mind  revolved,  transported  by  my  rage. 

When  to  my  sight,  never  before  so  clear, 

My  gracious  mother  appeared,  and,  in  the  dark, 

A  goddess  all  confessed,  with  such  light  shone, 

As  when  to  the  celestials  she  is  wont 

To  show  herself.     She  held  my  hand,  and  spake 

With  roseate  lips  these  words  :   "  O  son,  what  grief 

Such  untamed  wrath  arouses  in  thy  breast  ? 

What  rage  is  this  ?     Where  has  thy  reverence  gone 

For  us  ?     Look  rather  where  thou  mayst  have  left 

Thy  sire  Anchises,  cumbered  with  old  age; 

Whether  thy  wife  Creiisa  be  alive ; 

Ascanius  too,  thy  son,  —  whom  on  all  sides 

The  Grecian  troops  surround  ;   and  whom,  unless 

My  care  of  them  oppose,  the  flames  will  now 

Have  swept  away,  and  hostile  swords  have  slain. 


805 


Sio 


v> 


Rook    II. 

'T  is  not  the  Spartan  Helen's  hated  face, 

\  >r  faulty  Paris,  but  the  inclement  gods, —  »«s 

v   The  gods,  I  say,  —  who  overthrow  this  power, 
And  from  its  lofty  summit  lay  Troy  low. 
£  :e,  —  I  will  break  the  cloud  which,  now  o'erdrawn, 

Obscures  thy  mortal  vision  with  dark  mists. 

Nor  fear  thou  to  obey  thy  parent's  will,  Boo 

Nor  slight  her  precepts.      Here,  where  ruined  piles, 

And  stones  from  stones  uptorn  thou  dost  behold, 

And  waving  clouds  of  mingled  smoke  and  dust, 

'T  is  Neptune  jars  the  walls,  and  with  the  might 

Of  his  great  trident  the  foundations  shakes,  825 

That  the  whole  city  topples  from  its  base. 

Here  fiercely  cruel  Juno,  first  of  all, 

The  Seaman  gate  doth  hold,  and  girt  with  steel, 

Summons,  in  wrath,  her  allies  from  the  ships. 

Now  look,  where  the  Tritonian  Pallas  sits  830 

Above  the  highest  citadels,  and  gleams 

With  cruel  Gorgon's  head,  amid  the  cloud. 

The  Sire  himself  supplies  the  Greeks  with  strength 

And  conquering  courage;   he  himself  stirs  up 

The  deities  against  the  Trojan  arms. 

Fly,  O  my  son,  and  end  thy  woes  and  toils ! 

Never  will  I  be  absent,  but  will  set 


8o  The   Aineid. 

Thee  on  the  threshold  of  thy  father,  safe." 
She  said,  and  in  the  thickest  shades  of  night 
Concealed  herself.     The  appalling  Forms  appear,  840 

And  the  great  deities  who  hated  Troy. 

Then  verily  all  Ilium  seemed  to  sink 

In  flames,  and  from  her  base  Neptunian  Troy 

To  be  o'erturned.     As  when  an  ancient  ash 

Upon  the  mountain-top,  by  axes  hewed  845 

With  frequent  blows,  the  peasants  all  contend, 

Eager  to  overthrow  it ;  all  the  while 

With  each  concussion  of  its  top,  it  nods, 

Threatening,  and  trembling  through  its  leafy  hair, 

Till  vanquished  by  degrees,  with  many  a  wound,  850 

It  groans  its  last,  and  crashing  down  the  cliff, 

Drags  ruin  in  its  fall.     Descending  now, 

Led  by  the  goddess,  through  the  enemies 

And  through  the  flames  I  am  borne,  while  all  around 

The  weapons  yield  a  place,  the  fires  recede.  855 

But  when  I  reached  my  old  paternal  home, 
My  father,  whom  I  wished  to  bear  away 
To  the  high  mountains,  and  whom  first  of  all 
I  sought,  refused  to  lengthen  out  his  life, 


Book    ll.  X  i 

Ami  suffer  exile,  now  that  Troy  was  1  860 

"O  ye,"  he  said,  "who.se  blood  is  full  o\  life, 
\\  hose  solid  strength  in  youthful  vigor  stands, — 
Plan  ye  your  flight!      But  it  the  heavenly  powers 
Had  destined  me  to  live,  they  would  have  kept 
For  me  these  seats.      Enough,  more  than  enough,  S65 

That  one  destruction  I  have  seen,  and  I 
Survive  the  captured  city.      Go  ye  then, 
Bidding  my  body  farewell ;  thus,  O  thus 
Fxtended  on  the  earth  !  —  I  shall  rind  death 
From  some  hand.     Merciful  the  foe  will  he,  870 

And  seek  for  spoils.     The  loss  of  burial  slight 
Will  be.      Long  have  I  lingered  out  my  years, 
Useless,  and  hated  by  the  deities, 
Since  the  great  sire  of  gods  and  king  of  men 
Breathed  on  me  with  his  storms  and  thunderbolts."         875 
Thus  saying,  he  remained  with  purpose  fixed. 
Then  we,  Creiisa  and  Ascanius, 
And  all  the  household,  weeping,  begged  that  he 
W  ould  not  thus  ruin  all  our  hopes,  and  urge 
The  impending  doom.      But  he  refused,  and  kept  sso 

I  11  moved  and  firm  in  what  he  had  resolved. 
Back  to  my  arms  I  fly,  —  so  sick  at  heart, 
I  long  for  death.      For  what  expedient  now, 
1 1 


82  The   Alneid. 

What  chance  remains  ?     "  O  father,  dost  thou  think 

That  I  can  go  and  leave  thee  here  alone  ?  ss5 

Comes  such  bad  counsel  from  my  father's  lips  ? 

If  't  is  the  pleasure  of  the  gods  that  naught 

From  the  whole  city  should  be  left,  and  this 

Is  thy  determined  thought  and  wish,  to  add 

To  perishing  Troy  thyself  and  all  thy  kin, —  s9o 

The  gate  lies  open  for  that  death  desired. 

Pyrrhus  will  soon  be  here,  fresh  from  the  blood 

Of  Priam,  —  he  who  before  a  father's  face 

Butchers  his  son,  and  stabs  the  father  next 

Before  the  altars.     Was  it  then  for  this,  895 

Mother  benign,  that  thou  didst  snatch  me  forth 

From  weapons  and  from  flames,  that  I  should  see 

Within  our  inmost  home  the  enemy  ?  — 

And  see  Ascanius,  and  my  aged  sire, 

And,  by  their  side,  Creiisa,  sacrificed  9°° 

All,  in  each  other's  blood?     My  armor  then, — 

Give  me  my  arms !     'T  is  the  last  hour  that  calls 

Upon  the  vanquished!     Give  me  to  the  Greeks;  — 

Let  me  renew  the  battles  I  began. 

To-day  we  shall  not  all  die  unavenged  !  "  9=5 

4 

Forthwith  I  gird  myself  anew  in  steel, 


Book    ii.  #3 

And,  mv  left  hand  inserting  in  my  shield, 
Began  to  put  it  on,  and  forth  was  going. 
Hut  lo  !   upon  the  threshold  stood  my  wife, 
And  hung  upon  me,  and  embraced  my  feet, 

And  held  the  young  lulus  to  his  sire. 

"  If  forth  thou  goest,  resolved  to  die,"  she  said, 

"Take  us  along  with  thee,  to  share  all  fates. 

But  if,  from  trial,  thou  hast  hope  in  arms, 

Protect  this  household  first.     To  whom  dost  thou  9'5 

Abandon  little  lulus,  and  thy  sire, 

Or  her  whom  once  thou  call'dst  thy  wife?" 

So  she 
Complaining  filled  the  house;   when  suddenly 
A  prodigy  most  wonderful  appeared. 

For  in  the  midst  of  our  embracing  arms,  910 

And  faces  of  his  sorrowing  parents,  lo ! 
Upon  lulus'  head  a  luminous  flame 
W  ith  lambent  flashes  shone,  and  played  about 
His  soft  hair  with  a  harmless  touch,  and  round 
His  temples  hovered.      We  with  trembling  fear  9^5 

Sought  to  brush  off  the  blaze,  and  ran  to  quench 
The  sacred  fire  with  water  from  the  fount. 
But  Father  Anchises  lifted  to  the  stars 
His  eyes  with  joy,  and  raised  his  hands  to  heaven, 


84  The   Aineid. 

Exclaiming,  "  Jupiter  omnipotent !  93° 

If  thou  wilt  yield  to  any  prayers  of  ours, 
Look  upon  us,  this  once ;   and  if  we  aught 
Deserve  by  any  piety,  give  help, 

0  Father,  and  these  omens  now  confirm !  " 

Scarce  had  my  aged  father  said  these  words,  93s 

When,  with  a  sudden  peal,  upon  the  left 

It  thundered,  and  down  gliding  from  the  skies, 

A  star,  that  drew  a  fiery  train  behind, 

Streamed  through  the  darkness  with  resplendent  light. 

We  saw  it  glide  above  the  highest  roofs,  940 

And  plunge  into  the  Ida?an  woods,  and  mark 

Our  course.     The  shining  furrow  all  along 

Its  track  gave  light,  and  sulphurous  fumes  around. 

And  now,  convinced,  my  father  lifts  himself; 

Speaks  to  the  gods, —  adores  the  sacred  star.  945 

"Now,  now,"  he  cries,  "for  us  no  more  delay! 

1  follow ;   and  wherever  ye  may  lead, 
Gods  of  my  country,  I  will  go  !     Guard  ye 
My  family,  my  little  grandson  guard. 

This  augury  is  yours;   and  yours  the  power  95° 

That  watches  Troy.     And  now,  my  son,  I  yield, 
Nor  will  refuse  to  go  along  with  thee." 


B  bk  11. 

And  now  through  all  the  city  we  e\n  hear 
The  roaring  flames,  which  nearer  roll  their  heat 

"Come  then,  dear  lather!      On  my  shoulders  I  95s 

Will  bear  thee,  nor  will  think  the  task  severe. 
Whatever  lot  awaits  us,  there  shall  be 
One  danger  ami  one  safety  for  us  both. 
Little  lulus  my  companion  be; 

And  at  a  distance  let  my  wife  observe  960 

Our  footsteps.      You,  my  servants,  take  good  heed 
i)f  what  I  say.     Beyond  the  city  stands 
Upon  a  rising  ground  a  temple  old 
Of   the  deserted  Ceres,  and  near  by 

An  ancient  cypress-tree,  for  many  years  965 

By  the  religion  of  our  sires  preserved. 
To  this,  by  different  ways,  we  all  will  come 
I       ether.      And  do  thou,  my  father,  here 
Take  in  thy  hands  our  country's  guardian  gods, 
And  our  Penates.      I,  who  have  just  come  forth 
From  war  and  recent  slaughter,  may  not  touch 
Such  sacred  things,  till  in  some  flowing  stream 
I  wash."     This  said,  a  tawny  lion's  skin 
On  my  broad  shoulders  and  my  stooping  neck 
I  throw,  and  take  my  burthen.      At  my  side 
Little  lulus  links  his  hand  in  mine, 


86 


The  Aineid. 


Following  his  father  with  unequal  steps. 
Behind  us  steps  my  wife.     Through  paths  obscure 
We  wend ;   and  I,  who  but  a  moment  since 
Dreaded  no  flying  weapons  of  the  Greeks, 
Nor  dense  battalions  of  the  adverse  hosts, 
Now  start  in  terror  at  each  rustling  breeze, 
And  every  common  sound,  held  in  suspense 
With  equal  fears  for  those  attending  me, 
And  for  the  burthen  that  I  bore  along. 


980 


985 


And  now  I  approached  the  city  gates,  and  seemed 

Thus  far  to  have  accomplished  all  our  course; 

When  suddenly  we  heard  a  trampling  sound 

Of  footsteps,  and  my  father,  peering  through 

The  darkness,  cries  :   "  Fly,  fly,  my  son  !  they  come!      990 

I  see  their  blazing  shields  and  brazen  arms!  " 


Here  I  know  not  what  influence  malign 
Bewildered  me.     For  while  along  my  way 
I  traced  my  course  through  unfrequented  paths, 
And  shunned  the  beaten  track,  —  ah,  woe  is  me! 
Whether,  delayed  by  some  unhappy  fate, 
Creiisa  stopped,  or  wandered  from  the  road, 
Or  sat  down  weary,  is  unknown  to  me. 


995 


Book  11.  87 

I  saw  her  not  again;  nor  did  I  note 

That  she  was  lost,  nor  fix  my  mind  on  her,  too* 

Until  unto  the  mound  and  sacred  shrine 

Of  Ceres  we  had  come.     Together  met 

At  last,  here,  she  alone  was  absent:  —  she 

I    eaped  the  sight  of  husband,  son,  and  friends. 

Distracted,  whom  did  I  not  then  accuse,  io°s 

Ot  men  and  gods?  or  what  more  cruel  loss 

Had  met  through  all  the  city's  overthrow  ? 

To  my  companions  I  commend  my  son 

Ascanius,  and  my  father,  and  the  gods 

Of  Troy,  and  in  a  winding  valley  hide  them  safe; —    1010 

Hack  to  the  city  go,  and  gird  myself 

With  shining  armor,  firmly  bent  to  renew 

All  risks,  and  through  all  Troy  retrace  my  steps, 

Kxposed  to  every  peril.      First  the  walls, 

And  the  dark  gateway  whence  I  had  issued  forth,  1015 

I  seek  ;   and  every  track  seen  through  the  night 

I  follow  backward,  and  observe  with  care. 

Everywhere  horror  tills  my  soul,  and  even 

The  silence  terrifies.      Thence  to  my  home 

I  go,  —  if  she  —  ah,  if  she  should,  perchance,  «°*° 

Have  thither  gone!      The  Greeks  had  broken  in, 

And  the  whole  house  they  held.      Devouring  tire 


88  The  Aineid. 

Rolled  in  the  wind,  and  reached  the  lofty  roof. 

Onward  I  move,  and  see  again  the  house 

Of  Priam,  and  the  citadel.     And  now  1025 

In  the  deserted  porticos,  within 

Juno's  asylum,  stood  the  chosen  guards, 

Phoenix  and  fierce  Ulysses,  keeping  watch 

Over  their  spoils.     Here  from  all  sides  heaped  up 

Lay  Trojan  treasure,  snatched  from  burning  crypts;       1030 

And  tables  of  the  gods,  and  robes,  and  cups 

Of  solid  gold.     And  in  a  long  array 

Stood  youths,  and  trembling  matrons  round  about. 

And  yet  I  dared  to  raise  my  voice  across 

The  shades,  and  filled  the  streets  with  fruitless  cries,      1035 

And  called  upon  Creusa,  in  my  grief, 

Again  and  yet  again.     Then  as  I  went 

Searching  from  house  to  house,  distraught  and  wild, 

I  saw,  before  my  eyes,  the  spectre  sad, 

The  shadowy  image,  of  Creusa  stand,  1040 

Larger  than  life.     Aghast  I  stood,  with  hair 

Erect :   my  voice  clung  to  my  throat.     But  she 

Thus  spoke,  and  with  these  words  allayed^ny  pain  :  — 

"Sweet  husband,  what  avails  it  to  indulge 

This  grief  insane?     These  things  do  not  occur  1045 

Without  Divine  consent.     'T  was  not  ordained 


Book    ii. 

That  thou  shouldst  bear  away  Crcusa  hence 

As  thy  companion,  nor  does  the  Arbiter 

Of  high  Olympus  will  it.     Exile  long 

Must  be  thy  lot,  the  vast  expan  c  of  sea  . 

Be  ploughed;  and  thou  shalt  see  the  Hesperian  land, 

Where  Lydian  Tiber  flows  with  gentle  course 
Between  the  fertile  fields  where  heroes  dwell. 
Prosperity,  a  kingdom,  and  a  spouse 
Of  royal  rank  are  there  obtained  for  thee.  i 

For  thy  beloved  Creiisa  cease  thy  tears. 
The  Myrmidons'  and  Dolopes'  proud  seats 
I  shall  not  see  :    nor  shall  I  go  away 
A  slave  to  Grecian  matrons, —  I  who  come 
From  Dardanus,  and  am  the  daughter-in-law  i 

Ot   divine  Venus.      But  upon  these  shores 
The  mighty  mother  of  the  gods  detains  me. 
Ami  now  farewell,  and  cherish  with  thy  love 
Thy  son  and  mine!  "      Saving  this,  she  left  me  there 
W  eeping,  and  wishing  many  things  to  say  ;  '°*>s 

.And,  lading  in  the  thin  air,  left  my  sight. 
Thrice  round  her  neck  I  strove  to  throw  my  arms; 
And  thrice  her  image  from  my  hands  escaped, 
Th:  '        .  :ht,  but  all  in  vain,  to  grasp  her  form, 
Borne  like  a  winged  dream  alone  the  winds. 


12 


90  The  Aineicl. 

Thus  finally,  the  night  being  worn  away, 

I  saw  my  friends  again.      But  here,  surprised, 

I  found  a  multitude  of  new-arrived 

Companions,  who  had  flocked  into  this  place, — 

Matrons,  and  men,  and  youths,  to  exile  doomed  :  1075 

A  wretched  crowd  :   they  from  all  sides  collect, 

Prepared,  with  courage  and  resource,  to  go 

To  whatsoever  lands  across  the  seas 

I  might  desire  to  carry  them.     And  now 

The  star  of  morning,  o'er  the  mountain-tops  i°8o 

Of  lofty  Ida  rising,  led  the  day. 

The  Greeks  still  held  the  closely  guarded  gates ; 

Nor  was  there  any  further  hope  of  aid. 

I  yielded  to  my  fate,  and,  bearing  still 

My  sire,  toward  the  mountains  took  my  way.-  ic85 


BOOK    III. 

\\  TIII\X  by  the  mandate  of  the  gods  the  power 

Of  Asia  and  Priam's  race  was  overthrown, 
Deserving  better  fate;   when  Ilium  fell, 
And  all  Neptunian  Troy  upon  the  ground 
Lav  smoking  ;   we  by  auguries  divine  5 

In  distant  and  deserted  lands  were  driven 
To  seek  an  exile.      'Neath  Antandros'  walls, 
And  Phrygian  Ida's  slopes,  we  built  a  fleet, 
Uncertain  whither  fate  should  carry  us, 
And  where  our  course  should  end.     We  summon  all       10 
Our  men.     The  early  summer  scarce  begun, 
My  sire  Anchises  bids  us  give  our  sails 
Unto  the  fates.     Weeping,  I  leave  behind 
My  native  shores,  the  harbors,  and  the  fields 
\\  here  Troy  once  stood,  —  an  exile  borne  away  15 

Upon  the  deep  :   with  me  my  friends,  my  son, 
And  household  gods,  and  those  of  mightier  power. 

Not  far  away  there  lies  a  peopled  land, 


92  The  Alneid. 

Sacred  to  Mars,  with  spreading  fields,  and  tilled 

By  Thracians  (stern  Lycurgus  ruled  it  once)  ;  20 

Of  old  in  hospitable  league  with  Troy, 

And  with  our  household  gods,  while  fortune  smiled. 

Here,  landing,  on  the  winding  shore  I  laid 

The  first  foundations  of  a  town,  —  the  fates 

Against  me,  —  and  from  my  own  name  I  called  *s 

The  spot  iEneades. 

A  sacrifice 
To  my  Dionean  mother,  and  the  gods 
Favoring  my  works  commenced,  I  here  began 
To  offer,  and  to  Heaven's  supernal  king 
Was  slaughtering  on  the  shore  a  snow-white  bull.  3° 

It  chanced  there  was  a  mound  hard  by,  on  which 
Some  twigs  of  cornel  grewr,  and  myrtles  thick, 
With  spear-like  shoots.     Approaching,  I  essayed 
To  pull  a  leafy  sapling  from  the  ground, 
That  I  might  deck  the  altars  with  the  leaves,  35 

When,  dreadful  to  relate,  a  marvellous  thing 
I  witnessed.     For  the  first  plant  that  I  plucked, 
Dark  oozing  blood  dripped  from  its  broken  roots, 
And  specked  the  ground  with  gore.      A  shudder  cold 
Shook  all  my  limbs,  and  froze  my  blood  with  fear.  4° 

Seeking  to  penetrate  the  mystery, 


Book   in. 


93 


I  pulled  again  another  pliant  shoot; 

Again  the  black  blood  oozes  from  the  hark. 

Disturbed  in  mind,  I  prayed  the  woodland  nymphs, 

And  Father  Mars,  who  o'er  the  fields  of  Thrace  45 

Presides,  that  they  would  bless  this  vision  strange, 

And  make  the  omen  light.      But  when  again, 
The  third  time,  with  a  tighter  clutch  I  seized 
A  twig,  and,  with  my  knees  against  the  ground, 
Pulled,  — shall  I  say  it,  or  he  mute?  —  a  groan  s° 

Grievous  to  hear  came  from  beneath  the  mound, 
And  a  voice  spoke:   "  ./Eneas,  why  dost  thou 
Thus  tear  my  wretched  limbs?     Spare  now  my  tomb! 
Forbear  polluting  thy  pure  hands;    for  I 
Am  Trojan,  and  not  alien  to  thy  race;  55 

Nor  flows  this  blood  from  wood.      Ah,  leave,  and  fly 
These  cruel  lands,  these  avaricious  shores  : 
For  I  am  Polydore ;   and  these  were  spears 
That  pierced  me,  now  sprung  up,  an  iron  crop 
Of  javelins."      Then  aghast  and  all  perplexed  60 

I  stood,  with  hair  erect  and  palsied  tongue. 
-^This  Polydore  with  a  great  sum  of  gold 
By  the  unhappv  Priam  had  been  sent 
In  secret  to  the  Thracian  monarch's  care, 
W  hen  first  he  doubted  the  success  of  Troy 


The  Alneid. 


94 


Beleaguered  by  the  Greeks.   I  But  he,  when  now 
The  Trojan  power  andlxJmiiie  had  declined, 
Followed  the  conquering  arms  of  Agamemnon, — 
Broke  through  all  faith,  and  murdered  Polydore, 
And  seized  his  treasure.      Cursed  thirst  for  gold, 
What  crimes  dost  thou  not  prompt  in  mortal  breasts ! 

Soon  as  this  fear  had  left  me,  I  announced 
These  portents  of  the  gods  to  our  chosen  chiefs, 
And  to  my  father  first,  and  asked  of  them 
Their  counsel.     All  with  one  accord  advise 
To  leave  this  land,  by  violated  laws 
Of  hospitality  accursed,  and  sail 
Away.     Then  funeral  rites  for  Polydore 
We  celebrate,  and  heap  a  mound  of  earth  ; 
And  altars  to  his  shade  are  built,  and  hung 
With  fillets  blue,  and  sombre  cypress  boughs. 
And  round  about  the  Trojan  women  go, 
As  they  are  wont,  with  loosely  flowing  hair. 
And  bowls  of  warm  frothed  milk  are  placed  around, 
And  cups  of  sacred  blood ;  while  in  the  tomb 
We  lay  his  ghost,  with  invocations  loud. 


7o 


75 


80 


Then,  when  the  sea  first  smiled,  and  when  the  breeze 
Played  lightly  on  the  waves,  and  south-winds  c 


Book    TIL  95 

With  gentle  murmuring  to  the  deep,  our  crews 

Draw  down  the  ships,  and  occupy  the  .shores.  90 

From  port  we  sail,  and  towns  and  lands  recede. 

Amid  the  sea  there  lies  a  lovely  isle, 

Sacred  to  Doris,  mother  of  the  nymphs 

Ot   ocean,  and  /Egean  Neptune.     This, 

Once  floating  round  the  shores,  Apollo  bound  95 

Fast  to  Gyaros  and  to  Myconos, 

And  bade  it  stay  unmoved,  and  scorn  the  winds. 

Hither  I  sail.      This  pleasant  isle  receives 

Within  its  port  the  weary  voyagers. 

Landing,  we  hail  with  praise  Apollo's  seat.  100 

King  Anius,  Phoebus'  priest  and  king  in  one, 

His  temples  bound  with  fillets  and  with  bays, 

Meets  us,  and  knows  Anchises  his  old  friend. 

Then  hands  are  grasped,  with  hospitable  cheer, 

Under  his  roof.     And  honors  due  I  paid  105 

The  ancient  temple  stones.      "  Grant  us,"  I  cried, 

"  Thymbra?an  Apollo,  grant  these  weary  ones 

A  home  to  call  our  own,  with  families, 

And  walls;    a  city  where  we  may  remain. 

Preserve  this  newer  Pergamus  of  Troy,  " 

Saved  from  the  fierce  Achilles  and  the  Greek 


og  The  ALneid. 

Whom  shall  we  follow  ?     Whither  dost  thou  will 
That  we  shall  go  ?     And  where  abide  ?     Grant  now, 
Father,  some  sign,  and  glide  into  our  souls!  " 

Scarce  had  I  spoken,  when  everything  around 

Suddenly  trembled,  all  the  sacred  doors, 

And  laurels  of  the  god.     The  mountain  heaved, 

And  from  the  deep  recess  the  tripod  moaned. 

With  reverent  submission  on  the  earth 

We  fall ;  and  thus  a  voice  strikes  on  our  ears  : 

«  Brave  Dardan  men,  that  land  from  which  you  trace 

Your  birth  and  first  beginnings  of  your  race 

Shall  take  you  back  unto  its  joyful  breast. 

Go  seek  your  ancient  mother,  and  there  rest. 

There  shall  all  shores  Eneas'  rule  obey, 

And  a  long  line  of  sons  hold  sovereign  sway." 

So  Phoebus  spoke.     A  great  tumultuous  joy 

Arose  among  us.     All,  inquiring,  ask 

What  city  this  may  be:   whither  this  voice 

Directs  us,  and  commands  us  to  return. 

My  father  then,  revolving  in  his  mind 

The  legends  of  the  olden  time,  thus  spake  :  — 

-  Hear  me,  O  chiefs,  and  learn  what  you  may  hone. 


"5 


125 


130 


Book    in.  97 

The  isle  of  Crete,  the  land  of  mighty  fovc 

Lies  in  mid-ocean  :  an  LI:  an  mount  >3s 

Is  there,  and  there  the  cradle  of    our  race. 

There  stand  a  hundred  peopled  cities,  —  realms  ■ 

Most  fertile,  —  whence  our  great  progenitor, 

Teucer,  if  I  remember  well  the  things 

I  've  heard,  passed  over  to  the  Rhaeteari  shores,  140 

And  for  a  kingdom  chose  a  place.      Not  yet- 

Had  Ilium  and  its  citadels  arisen  : 

The  inhabitants  in  lowly  valleys  dwelt. 

Thence  came  the  mother  goddess,  Cyhele, 

The  Corybantian  cymbals,  and  the  grove  145 

Idaean  ;   thence  the  faithful  secrecy 

Of  sacred  rites;  and  thence  the  lions  yoked 

Beneath  the  chariot  of  the  queen  divine. 

Come  then,  and  follow  where  the  gods  direct. 

Let  us  propitiate  the  winds,  and  seek  15° 

The  Gnossian  shores.      Nor  are  they  distant  far. 

It  Jupiter  but  aid  us,  the  third  day 

S 1 1 .1 1 1  land  our  ships  upon  the  Cretan  coast." 

saying,  he  sacrificed  the  victims  due: 
A  hull  to  Neptune,  and  a  bull  to  thee,  155 

0  bright  Apollo;    a  black  sheep  to  the  Storm  ; 
A  white  one  to  the  favoring  Western  Winds. 

'J 


g  8  The   Aineid. 

A  rumor  ran  that  King  Idomeneus, 

Expelled  from  his  paternal  realms,  had  ceased 

To  reign,  and  that  the  shores  of  Crete  were  left  160 

Deserted,  —  houses  void,  and  settlements 

Abandoned.     Passing  by  the  Ortygian  port, 

By  Naxos'  Bacchanalian  heights  we  sail ; 

By  green  Donysa  and  Olearos ; 

By  snow-white  Paros,  and  the  Cyclades  *65 

Scattered  along  the  sea,  and  channels  thick. 

With  islands ;  and  the  shouting  mariners 

Pull  at  the  oars  with  spirits  emulous, 

And  upon  Crete  and  our  forefathers  call. 

A  rising  wind  comes  blowing  on  our  stern,  »7© 

And  follows,  till  at  length  we  glide  along 

The  ancient  shores  of  the  Curetan  race. 

Here  eagerly  I  choose  the  site,  and  raise 

Walls  of  a  wished-for  city,  which  I  call 

Pergamia,  and  exhort  my  people,  proud  175 

Of  such  a  name,  to  watch  with  loving  care 

Their  hearths,  and  guard  them  with  a  citadel. 

Now  hauled  upon  the  dry  shore  stand  the  ships. 
Our  youths  employ  their  time  in  choosing  wives, 


Book    in.  99 

And  tilling  the  new  fields;    laws  I  began  «8o 

To  give,  and  dwellings;  —  when  the  air  is  filled 

With  sudden  blight,  a  slow-consuming  plague 

Dreadful  and  dire,  that  falls  upon  the  limbs 

Of  men,  and  on  the  trees,  and  on  the  crops. 

A  fatal  year  it  proved.     Either  they  left  18s 

Their  pleasant  lives,  or  their  sick  bodies  dragged 

About;   the  dog-star  parched  the  sterile  fields; 

And  all  the  grass  was  dry;  the  sickly  crops 

Refused  their  grain.     Once  more  across  the  sea 

To  the  Ortvgian  oracle,  mv  sire  190 

Advises  us  to  send,  and  supplicate 

Apollo,  and  implore  his  grace,  and  ask 

What  end  may  be  to  our  distressed  affairs  ; 

W  here  turn  for  help,  and  whither  bend  our  course. 

'T  was  night ;  and  all  the  living  things  of  earth  195 

W  ere  sleeping  ;    when  the  sacred  images, 

The  Phrygian  household  gods  that  I  had  brought 

From  Troy,  borne  through  the  city's  flames,  I  saw 

Standing  before  me  as  I  slept, —  distinct 

In  the  broad  moonlight  pouring  full  and  clear 

Through  the  inserted  windows.      Then  they  spoke, 

And  with  their  words  relieved  mv  anxious  tears :  — 


ioo  The  Alneid. 

"That  which  Apollo  would  announce  to  thee 

Going  to  Ortygia,  here,  unsought,  through  us 

He  brings  to  thy  own  doors.      We,  who,  since  Troy       =o5 

Was     burned,    have    followed     thee,    and     helped     thine 

arms, 
And  in  thy  ships  have  crossed  the  swelling  seas, — 
We  thy  descendants  also  will  exalt 
Unto  the  stars,  and  to  thy  city  give 

Imperial  power.     Do  thou  then  build  thy  walls  «o 

Of  ample  size,  fitting  a  noble  race, 
Nor  grow  disheartened  in  thy  wanderings. 
Change  your  abiding-place.     Not  on  these  shores 
Of  Crete  did  Delian  Apollo  bid 

The  Trojans  fix  their  seats.     There  is  a  place,  215 

An  ancient  country,  called  among  the  Greeks 
Hesperia,  of  a  fertile  soil,  and  strong 
In  arms,  once  settled  by  CEnotrian  men  ; 
Now,  from  their  leader's  name,  called  Italy. 
That  is  our  destined  home.      There  Dardanus  »*° 

Was  born,  —  Iasius  too,  —  and  from  this  chief 
Our  race.      Rise  then,  and  to  thy  aged  sire 
Rejoicing  bear  this  news,  which  none  may  doubt. 
Seek  for  Cortona  and  the  Ausonian  lands, 
For  Jove  denies  to  thee  these  Cretan  fields."  "5 


Book   in.  ioi 

Astonished  at  the  vision,  and  the  voice 
Divine  (for  it  was  not  deep  sleep;   I  .seemed 
To  know  their  countenances  and  veiled  locks 
And  forms  distinct),  a  cold  sweat  bathed  my  limbs; 
Leaping  from  bed,  I  raised  my  hands  and  voice  »3° 

To  heaven,  and  on  the  altar-fires  of  home, 
With  fitting  rites,  poured  offerings  underiled. 
This  sacrifice  completed,  I  with  joy- 
Inform  Anchises  of  the  whole  event. 
At  once  he  saw  the  double  ancestry 
And  line,  and  how  by  error  of  new  names 
He  was  deceived  about  the  ancient  spots. 
11  My  son,"  he  said,  "  by  Trojan  fates  still  held  ! 
(     ssandra  alone  foretold  to  me  such  things. 
Now  I  remember  how  she  prophesied 
This  destiny  for  us;   and  oft  she  spoke 
About  Hesperia  and  the  Italian  realms. 
But  who  believed  the  Trojans  e'er  should  come 
To  the  Hesperian  shores  ?  or  who  did  e'er 
To  prophetess  Cassandra  give  belief? 
To  Pha'bus  let  us  yield,  and,  warned  by  him, 
Seek  better  fortune."     Thus  he  spoke;   we  all 
With  joy  obey.     This  place  we  also  quit, 
Leaving  a  few  behind  ;   and  setting  sail 


102  The   Aineid. 

In  our  hollow  barks  we  skim  along  the  sea.  a5o 

Our  ships  kept  to  the  open  main.     No  more 
We  saw  the  land ;  on  all  sides  sky  and  sea. 
Then  overhead  there  stood  a  cloud  that  scowled 
With  night  and  storm,  and  in  the  gathering  gloom 
The  waves  grew  rough,  and  all  at  once  the  wind  25s 

Swept  over  them,  and  surging  billows  rose. 
On  the  vast  roaring  deep  dispersed,  we  are  thrown. 
The  day  is  wrapped  in  clouds,  and  the  wet  night 
Snatches  away  the  heavens.     From  bursting  clouds 
Redoubling  thunders  crash.     Driven  from  our  course,    -60 
We  wander  through  the  blind  and  misty  waves. 
Even  Palinurus  owns  he  cannot  now 
Distinguish  night  from  day,  nor  recollect 
His  course.     For  three  uncertain  days  we  grope 
In  the  thick  fog,  and  as  many  starless  nights.  265 

On  the  fourth  day  at  length  the  land  appears, 
And  distant  mountains  rise,  and  curling  smoke. 
Our  sails  are  lowered.     Upon  our  oars  we  bend, 
And  dash  the  spray,  and  sweep  the  waters  blue. 

Safe  from  the  waves,  I  landed  on  the  shores  270 

And  islands  of  the  Strophades  (so  called 
In  Greece)  ;   amid  the  great  Ionian  sea 
They  lie.     And  here  the  fell  Cela:no  dwelt, 


Book  in.  10 


o 


And  the  other  Harpies,  after  Phineus'  house 

Was  closed  upon  them,  forced  by  fear  to  quit  *7s 

The  tables  where  they  once  had  banqueted. 

So  dire  a  monster  and  so  foul  a  pest 

And  scourge,  sent  by  the  gods,  never  arose 

From  Stygian  waters;   winged  like  the  birds, 

And  with  a  virgin's  face;   a  foul  discharge  180 

Comes  from  their  bodies  ;   crooked  claws  for  hands  ; 

And  faces  with  perpetual  hunger  pale. 

Here,  entering  the  port,  behold,  we  see 
Fair  herds  of  cattle  grazing  in  the  fields, 
And  flocks  of  goats,  without  a  keeper,  browse  285 

Amid  the  grass.     We  with  our  weapons  rush 
Upon  them  ;   and  invoke  the  gods  and  Jove 
Himself  to  share  our  booty.     Next  we  spread 
Our  couches  on  the  winding  shore,  and  fall 
To  feasting;  when  with  swift  terrific  Might  t      19° 

The  Harpies  from  the  mountains  flock,  and  shake 
Their  clanging  wings,  and  snatch  away  our  food, 
Defiling  everything  with  contact  foul; 
And,  'mid  the  hideous  stench,  a  dreadful  voice 
Is  heard.      Again,  in  a  remote  retreat,  295 

L  nder  a  hollow  rock,  shut  in  by  shade 
Ot  arching  trees,  we  set  our  tables  forth, 


1 04  The   ALneid. 

And  on  the  altars  we  replace  the  fire. 

Again,  from  a  different  quarter  of  the  sky, 

And  secret  hiding-places,  hovering  round,  3°° 

The  noisy  troop  with  crooked  claws  alight, 

And  with  their  mouths  defile  our  food.     I  then 

Bid  my  companions  take  their  arms,  and  fight 

Against  this  cursed  race.     So  charged,  they  hide 

Their  swords  and  shining  shields  beneath  the  grass.         3°5 

So,  when  we  heard  again  their  clattering  wings 

Flying  along  the  shore,  Misenus  gives 

A  signal  from  his  brazen  trumpet,  perched 

Upon  a  height.     My  comrades  rush  to  try 

This  novel  war,  and  maim  these  fell  sea-birds;  31° 

But  neither  in  their  feathers  nor  their  flesh 

Do  they  receive  a  wound.     Swiftly  they  cleave 

The  air,  and  leave  their  filthy  tracks  behind 

On  the  half-eaten  banquet.      All  but  one, — 

Cekrno.     She,  the  gloomy  prophetess,  3'5 

On  a  high  rock  alighting,  thus  broke  forth 

In  words :   "  Is  't  war  ye  wage  on  us,  —  yea,  war, 

Sons  of  Laomedon,  for  these  beeves  you  've  slain, 

Our  slaughtered  steers,  —  from  our  own  land  to  drive 

The  unoffending  Harpies  ?      Hear  ye  then  3" 

My  words,  and  fix  this  presage  in  your  minds, 


Book   in.  105 

Which  Jove  foretold  to  Phoebus,  he  to  me, — 
And  I,  the  eldest  of  the  Furies,  tell 
To  you.     Ye  hold  your  course  to  Italy; 
Your  Italy  ye  shall  find,  with  winds  invoked, 

And  sail  into  her  ports.      But  ere  ye  gird 
Your  city  with  its  walls,  by  famine  dire, 
For  this  your  outrage,  ye  shall  be  compelled 
To  gnaw  the  very  boards  on  which  you  eat." 

She  said;   and,  borne  upon  her  wings,  she  rled  330 

Into  the  wood.      But  sudden  fear  congealed 
My  comrades'  blood;   their  courage  fell;   no  more 
By  arms,  but  with  our  vows  and  prayers,  they  wish 
To  ask  tor  peace  ;   whether  these  creatures  be 
Of   rank  divine,  or  birds  obscene  and  dire.  335 

And  Father  Anchises  from  the  shore  spreads  forth 
His  hands,  invoking  the  great  deities  ; 
And  offerings  due  commands :   "  Ye  gods,  forefend 
Those  threats!     Ye  gods,  avert  such  hard  mishap! 
And  kindly  save  your  pious  votaries."  340 

Then  he  commands  to  tear  our  ships  from  shore, 
And  to  uncoil  the  ropes,  and  cast  them  loose. 
i  he  south-winds  stretch  our  sails :    through  foaming  wai 
W  e  are  borne,  where'er  the  winds  and  pilot  [Hunt. 
Now  looms  in  sight  Zacynthus,  crowned  with  v 

14 


106  The  Alneid. 

Dulichium,  Same,  and  steep  Neritus ; 

And  past  the  rocks  of  Ithaca  we  fly, 

Laertes'  kingdom,  while  we  curse  the  land 

That  reared  the  cruel  Ulysses.     Soon  appear 

The  cloud-capped  mountain-tops  of  Leucate,  35° 

And  Phoebus'  temple,  feared  by  mariners. 

Weary,  we  make  for  this,  and  now  approach 

The  little  city.     From  the  prow  we  cast 

The  anchor,  and  draw  up  our  ships  on  shore. 

Thus  having  gained  the  unexpected  coast,  355 

We  sacrifice  to  Jove,  and  light  the  fires 
Of  votive  offerings  ;   then  make  Actium  famed 
With  Trojan  games.      My  comrades,  naked,  smear 
Their  limbs  with  slippery  oil,  for  wrestling-bouts, 
As  in  their  native  land.     And  much  delight  360 

It  gave  to  have  passed  so  many  Grecian  towns 
Unharmed,  and  held  our  passage  through  our  foes. 

Meanwhile,  the  great  sun  rolls  around  the  year, 
And  icy  winter  with  his  northern  winds 
Roughens  the  waves.     A  shield  of  hollow  brass  365 

Once  worn  by  mighty  Abas  I  affix 
Upon  the  door-posts,  and  this  verse  inscribe 
Thereon,  commemorative  of  the  event : 
These  arms  ^Eneas  took  from  conquering  Greeks. 


Book   111.  107 

Then  I  command  to  quit  these  ports,  and  take 

Our  oars.      So,  rowing,  o'er  the  waves  we  sweep. 

Phaeacia's  summits  oi   aerial  hue 

Are  hid  behind  us,  and  we  coast  along 

Epirus,  entering  the  Chaonian  ports, 

And  toward  Bu  thro  turn's  lofty  city  sail.  375 

Here  an  incredible  report  we  hear  : 

How  Helenus,  the  son  of  Priam,  reigns 

O'er  Grecian  cities  ;   of  the  spouse  and  throne 

Of  Pyrrhus  now  possessed  ;    and  thus  again 

Andromache  was  given  as  the  wife  3S0 

Of  one  from  her  own  native  land.     Amazed 

I  heard  it,  and  my  heart  was  all  aflame 

With  marvellous  desire  to  meet  the  man 

And  hear  his  story.      From  the  port  I  go, 

Leaving  my  ships  upon  the  shore.      It  chanced  3ss 

Andromache  that  day,  outside  the  walls, 

Within  a  grove  by  a  mimic  Simois  stream, 

W  as  making  solemn  feast,  and  offering  there 

Her  sad  libations  on  a  mound  she  called 

Her  Plector's,  green  with  turf,  where  she  invoked  39> 

Hi-  shade;  also  two  altars  she  with  tears 

Had  consecrated.      As  she  saw  me  approach, 


108  The   Alneid. 

And  knew  our  Trojan  arms,  in  wild  amaze 

And  terror  at  this  wondrous  prodigy, 

She  stiffened  as  she  gazed  ;   her  color  fled  ;  395 

Fainting  she  falls;  and  after  a  long  pause 

Can  scarcely  speak.     "  And  art  thou  real  ?  "  she  said  ; 

"  A  real  and  living  messenger  to  me, 

0  goddess-born  !     Or  if  the  light  of  life 

Hath  left  thee,  —  tell  me,  where  is  Hector  then  !"         400 
Saying  this,  her  tears  fell  fast ;   her  cries  of  grief 
Filled  all  the  place.     To  her  wild  words  I  scarce 
Can  frame  a  brief  reply;  but  deeply  moved, 
With  parted  lips  and  interrupted  speech, 

1  cry  :   "  I  am  indeed  alive  :   through  all  4°s 
Extremes  I  drag  my  days.     Doubt  not ;   't  is  real 

All  that  thou  seest.     But  ah,  what  fate  is  thine, 

Deprived  of  such  a  husband  ?     Or  what  lot 

Worthy  of  thee  hath  fallen  to  thee  again  ? 

Hector's  Andromache,  art  thou  the  wife  4'° 

Of  Pyrrhus  ?  "     She  with  downcast  looks,  and  voice 

Lowered,  replied  :   "  O,  happier  than  all  others 

Was  Priam's  virgin  daughter,  when  condemned 

To  die  upon  a  hostile  mound,  beneath 

The  walls  of  Troy  ;   no  casting  of  lots  she  bore,  4>s 

Nor  was  led  captive  to  a  conqueror's  bed ! 


Book    TIL  109 

While  we, —  our  country  burned,  o'er  manv  6C&8 
Conveyed,  having  in  servitude  brought  forth 

Our  children,  —  w  c  were  forced  to  hear  the  pride 

And  con  turn  el  v  oi    the  Achillean  race, 

And  of   a  haughty  youth,  who  seeking  then 

Hcrmione  in  Spartan  nuptial  bonds, 

Transferred  me,  slave  to  him,  to  be  possessed 

Bv  Helen  US,  who  also  was  his  slave. 

But,  tired  with  love  excessive  for  his  bride  4:5 

Snatched  from  him,  and  by  Furies  goaded  on, 

Orestes  takes  this  Pyrrhus  in  an  hour 

Unguarded,  and  beside  his  altar  fires 

Slays  him.     At  Pyrrhus'  death,  to  Helenus 

A  portion  of  his  kingdom  fell,  which  he  430 

Called  the  Chaonian  land,  from  Chaon's  name, 

Of  Troy  ;   and  on  these  hills  a  citadel 

1 1. is  built,  —  a  second  Pergamus.      But  thou, — 

What  winds,  what  fates  have  hither  shaped  thy  cour-r  : 

Or  what  divinity  has  driven  thee  here 

Ipon  our  shores,  unknowing  of  what  has  passed? 

W  hat  of  thy  boy  Ascanius  ?     Lives  he  yet  ? 

And  does  he  miss  the  mother  he  has  lost? 

d  does  his  sire  i^neas  —  Hector  too, 
Hi>  uncle  —  kindle  somewhat  in  his  breast 


1 1  o  The  Aineid. 

The  olden  virtues,  and  the  manly  glow 

Of  courage?"     So  she  poured  her  feelings  out, 

Weeping,  with  long  and  fruitless  floods  of  tears : 

When  from  the  city,  with  a  numerous  train, 

Brave  Helenus  the  son  of  Priam  comes,  44s 

And  knows  his  friends,  and  gladly  them  conducts 

Into  his  palace;  and  between  each  word 

Weeps  many  a  tear.     Then  moving  on,  I  see 

A  little  Troy,  a  mimic  Pergamus, 

A  scanty  stream  of  Xanthus,  and  embrace  45° 

The  threshold  of  another  Scasan  gate 

My  Trojans  too  the  hospitality 

Enjoy,  the  king  receiving  them  within 

His  ample  galleries.     In  the  palace  halls 

They  pour  the  wine.     The  feast  is  served  in  gold.  455 

And  now  a  day  and  yet  another  day 

Had  passed.      The  breezes  call  ;   the  south-wind  swel^ 

Our  sails.     Then  thus  to  our  prophet  host  I  spake:  — 

"  Thou  of  true  Trojan  birth,  interpreter 

Of  things  divine,  who  knowest  Apollo's  will,  46c 

The  tripods,  and  the  laurels  of  the  god  ;  — 

Who  know'st  the  stars,  the  language  of  the  birds, 

And  omens  of  their  flight;  tell  me,  I  pray, — 


Book  in.  1 1 1 

Since  favoring  religious  auguries 

Have  pointed  my  whole  course,  ami  all  the  gods 

Persuade  toward  Italy,  and  lands  remote 

laeno  the  tell  Harpy,  she  alone 
Foretells  a  strange  and  dreadful  prodigy, 

1  threatens  vengeful  wrath  and  famine  dire), — 
Tell  me  what  dangers  I  must  chiefly  avoid,  470 

Or  by  what  guidance  I  may  overtop 
Mv  many  trials."     Then  with  sacrifice 
Of  oxen  duly  offered,  Helenus 
Entreats  the  favor  of  the  gods,  unbinds 
The  fillets  from  his  consecrated  head,  475 

And  leads  us  to  Apollo's  temple,  awed 
To  reverence  by  the  presence  of  the  god  ? 
Then  from  his  sacred  lips  thus  prophesies, 

"Son  of  a  goddess,  certain  is  my  faith 

That  thou  with  auspices  of  highest  mark  480 

Art  sailing  on  the  deep;    (the  king  of  god? 

Distributes  thus  the  fates,  and  rolls  around 

The  order  of  events,  even  now  going  on.) 

Ot   many  things  a  few  I  will  declare, 

I  I    W  thou  mayst  safelier  cross  the  friendly  BCi    .  48s 

And  reach  the  Ausonian  port.      For  other  things 


1 1 2  The  sEneid 

The  Destinies  forbid  that  thou  shouldst  know, 

Or  Juno  wills  not  that  I  utter  them. 

And  first,  thou  knowest  not  that  Italy, 

That  seems  so  near,  within  an  easy  sail,  490 

With  neighboring  ports,  is  distant  far,  by  sea, 

And  by  untrodden  paths  and  tracts  of  land. 

And  first  in  the  Trinacrian  waves  your  oars 

Must  bend,  and  you  must  cross  the  Ausonian  sea, 

The  infernal  lake,  and  yEaean  Circe's  isle,  49s 

Ere  in  safe  lands  thy  city  must  be  built. 

The  signs  I  '11  give  thee ;  bear  them  well  in  mind. 

When,  as  thou  musest  anxiously  beside 

A  hidden  river,  on  the  shores  thou  seest 

A  huge  sow  lying  'neath  the  ilex-trees,  s°° 

White,  on  the  ground,  with  thirty  sucking  young 

Of  the  same  color  clustered  round  her  teats, — 

There  shall  thy  city  be,  there  rest  be  found 

From  toil.     Nor  fear  that  prophecy  that  ye 

Shall  eat  your  tables.     Fate  shall  find  a  way  ;  s°s 

Apollo,  when  invoked,  will  be  your  aid. 

But  for  those  nearer  lands  of  Italy 

Washed  by  our  tides,  avoid  them  ;   all  their  towns 

Are  inhabited  by  evil-minded  Greeks. 

Here  the  Narycian  Locri  built  their  walls;  510 


Book    in.  113 

And  here  Idomencus  oi  Crete  has  tilled 

With  soldiery  the  Sallentinian  plains. 

And  Philoctetes,  Melibo/an  chief, 

Defends  the  small  Petilia  with  his  walls. 

Moreover,  when  your  fleet  has  crossed  the  seas,  s's 

And,  building  altars  on  the  shore,  you  pay 

Your  vows,  shroud  with  a  purple  veil  thy  head, 

Lest  'mid  the  sacred  fires  and  rites  divine 

Some  hostile  presence  should  present  itself, 

And  so  disturb  the  omens.     Keep  this  rule  s*° 

Of  worship,  thou  and  thy  companions  all, 

And  thy  descendants.      But  when  near  the  coasts 

{){  Sicily,  Pelorus'  narrow  straits 

Open  to  view,  then  take  the  land  to  the  left, 

And  the  left  sea,  with  a  wide  circuit  round,  s*s 

And  shun  the  shore  and  sea  upon  the  right. 

Those  lands,  't  is  said,  by  vast  convulsions  once 

Were  torn  asunder  (such  the  changes  wrought 

By  time),  when  both  united  stood  as  one. 

Between  them  rushed  the  sea,  and  with  its  waves  53° 

Cut  off  the  Italian  side  from  Sicily, 

And  now  between  their  fields  and  cities  flows 

With  narrow  tide.     There  Scylla  guards  the  right, 

Charybdis  the  implacable  the  left; 


ii4  The  Aineid. 

And  thrice  its  whirlpool  sucks  the  vast  waves  down        535 

Into  the  lowest  depths  of  its  abyss, 

And  spouts  them  forth  into  the  air  again, 

Lashing  the  stars  with  waves.      But  Scylla  lurks 

Within  the  blind  recesses  of  a  cave, 

Stretching  her  open  jaws,  and  dragging  down  540 

The  ships  upon  the  rocks.     Foremost,  a  face, 

Human,  with  comely  virgin's  breast,  she  seems, 

E'en  to  the  middle;  but  her  lower  parts 

A  hideous  monster  of  the  sea,  the  tails 

Of  dolphins  mingling  with  the  womb  of  wolves.  54s 

Better  to  voyage,  though  delaying  long, 

Around  Pachyna's  cape,  with  circuit  wide, 

Than  once  the  shapeless  Scylla  to  behold 

Under  her  caverns  vast,  and  hear  those  rocks 

Resounding  with  her  dark  blue  ocean  hounds.  55° 

And  now  besides,  if  aught  of  wisdom  be 

In  Helenus,  or  credit  as  a  seer, — 

If  with  true  lore  Apollo  fills  his  mind, 

One  thing  before  all  others' I  enjoin, 

One  admonition  urge  and  urge  again.  555 

First  of  all,  supplicate  great  Juno's  power; 

To  Juno  pay  thy  vows  with  willing  mind; 

O'erpower  the  mighty  queen  with  gifts  and  prayers. 


Book   in.  i  1 5 

So,  finally,  Trinacria  left  behind, 
Victorious  thou  shalt  reach  the  Italian  lands. 
Thence,  when  Cumaea's  city  thou  hast  found, 

And  sounding  forests  of  the  Avernian  lake, 

Here  the  mad  Sibyl  thou  wilt  see,  who  sits 

Beneath  a  rock,  announcing  human  fates, 

And  to  her  leaves  commits  her  oracles.  565 

What  mystic  lines  the  virgin  writes,  she  lays 

Arranged,  and  leaves  them  shut  within  her  cave; 

Unmoved  thev  lie,  nor  is  their  order  changed. 

Hut  should  the  door  upon  its  hinges  turn, 

And  some  light  breeze  disturb  the  delicate  leaves,  570 

And  scatter  them  about  the  hollow  cave, 

She  never  cares  to  arrest  them,  or  renew 

Their  order,  and  connect  her  oracles; 

Ami  they  who  came  to  her,  uncounselled  go, 

Hating  the  Sibyl's  seat.      Here,  do  not  grudge  575 

Delay  and  loss  of  time  too  much,  although 

Thy  comrades  chide  thee,  and  the  voyage  tempts 

Thy  sail<,  with  prospect  of  auspicious  winds  ; 

Hut  to  the  Sibyl  go,  entreating  her 

That  she  herself  will  tell  her  oracles, 

And  open  willingly  her  voice  and  lips. 

She  will  unfold  to  thee  the  Italian  tribes, 


u6 


The  SEneid. 


Thy  coming  wars,  and  how  thou  mayst  avo.d, 

How  bear  thy  suffering,     Reverently  approached, 

She  will  direct  thee  on  a  prosperous  course. 

So  far  it  is  permitted  I  may  speak 

To  thee  admonitory  words.     Now  go, 

And  with  thy  deeds  bear  Troy  to  heights  divine. 

When  thus  the  prophet  had  with  friendly  speech 

Addressed  me,  to  our  ships  he  sends  rich  gifts 

Of  gold,  of  ivory,  and  of  silver  plate, 

And  Dodona;an  caldrons;  and  with  these 

A  corselet  woven  of  triple  links  of  gold, 

And  a  proud  helmet  with  a  flowing  crest 

Of  hair,  the  arms  of  Neoptolemus ; 

Gifts  for  my  father  also  ;  horses  too, 

And  guides,  and  bands  of  rowers  he  supplies; 

And  furnishes,  withal,  our  crews  w.th  arms. 

Meanwhile,  Anchises  bids  us  hoist  our  sails, 
Lest  by  delay  we  miss  the  rising  wind. 
Then  him  Apollo's  priest  addresses  thus, 

•  n  •   "  Thou  who  wert  worthy  deemed 
With  reverent  mien  :       1  n°«. 

Of  Venus'  proud  espousals, -by  heaven's  care 
Twice  rescued  tVom  Troy----- lo>  the  hnd 


Book   in.  '  I  7 

Ausonian  is  before  thee!     With  thy  Bhips 

Go  take  it.      Vet  thou  needs  must  pass  it  by 

Upon  this  sea.      Far  distant  is  that  part 

Of  Italy  Apollo  opes  to  thee. 

G    .  happy  in  the  filial  piety 

Of  this  thy  son  !     Why  further  speech  from  me  ? 

Or  why  with  words  delay  the  rising  winds?" 
Grieved  too  at  taking  leave,  Andromache 

Brings  for  Ascanius  broidered  garments  wrought 

With  golden  thread;   also  a  Phrygian  cloak, 

An  offering  not  unworthy,  —  loading  him 

With  gifts  of  woven  stuffs;  while  thus  she  speaks:  — 

"  Accept  these  too,  my  boy,  and  let  them  be 

Memorials  oi'  my  handiwork,  and  show 

The  love  unlading  of  Andromache, 

Once  Hector's  wife;   thy  kindred's  parting  gifts;  — 

O  >ole  surviving  image  of  my  boy 

Astyanax  !      Such  eyes,  such  hands  had  he, 

Such  features ;   and  his  budding  youth  would  just 

Have  equalled  thine  in  years."      Departing  now, 

With  gushing  tears  I  said  :   "  Happy  be  ye, 

Whose  fortune  is  achieved.      For  us,  we  are  called 

From  one  fate  to  another;   but  for  you 

Rest  is  secure  :    no  ploughing  ot   the  deep, 


1 1 8  The  Aineid. 

No  fields  of  distant  Italy  to  seek, 

Forever  vanishing  before  your  eyes.  630 

An  image  of  the  Xanthus  and  of  Troy 

Ye  have  before  you,  by  your  own  hands  made, 

With  better  auspices,  I  hope,  and  less 

Exposed  to  hostile  Greeks.     If  I  should  ever 

Enter  the  Tiber,  and  the  adjacent  fields  63S 

Of  Tiber,  and  behold  the  cities  given 

Unto  my  people, —  then,  our  kindred  towns 

And  neighboring  populations  shall  one  day  — 

Epirus  and  Hesperia  (having  both 

One  founder,  Dardanus,  one  fortune  too)  —  64° 

Make  a  united  Troy  in  our  regard. 

Be  this  the  care  of  our  posterity." 

Close  to  the  neighboring  Ceraunia  now 

We  sail,  whence  lies  our  way  to  Italy, 

The  shortest  course  by  sea.     Meanwhile  the  sun  645 

Goes  down  ;   the  shadowy  mountains  hide  in  night. 

On  the  earth's  welcome  lap  we  throw  ourselves, 

Beside  the  waves,  the  watch  being  set  on  board, 

And  here  and  there  along  the  sandy  beach 

Refresh  ourselves  with  food.      Our  weary  limbs  65c 

Are  bathed  in  sleep.      Not  yet  the  night  had  reached 


Book   m.  rig 

Her  middle  course,  when  Palinurus  leaves 

His  bed,  —  no  sluggard  he,  —  and  all  the  winds 

Essays,  listening  to  catch  their  sounds;   and  notes 

In  the  still  sky  the  softly  gliding  stars,  65S 

Arcturus,  and  the  rainy  Hyades, 

And  the  two  Bears,  and  armed  Orion  bright 

With  gold.     And  when  he  sees  that  all  is  still 

Amid  the  heavens  serene,  he  from  the  stern 

Gives  the  clear  signal.      Then  we  strike  our  tents,  660 

And  try  the  voyage,  with  our  winged  sails 

And  now  Aurora  reddens  in  the  east ; 

The  stars  had  vanished  ;   when,  far  off,  we  see 

The  dusky  mountains  and  the  long  low  shore 

Of  Italy.     And  Italy  rings  first  665 

Achates'  voice,  and  Italy  with  shouts 

Of  joy  my  comrades  greet.     My  father  then 

W  reathes  a  great  cup,  and  fills  it  up  with  wine, 

And,  standing  in  the  stern,  invokes  the  gods  :  — 

"  Ye  potent  deities  of  sea  and  land,  670 

And  of  the  storms,  grant  us  a  passage  safe, 

And  favoring  breezes."     Soon  the  wished-for  winds 

Freshen,  and  wider  grows  the  harbor  now  ; 

Minerva's  temple  on  a  height  appears; 

W  e  furl  the  sails,  and  turn  our  prows  to  land. 


120  The   Alneid. 

Hollowed  by  eastern  tides  the  harbor  lies, 

And  hidden  by  the  jutting  rocks,  on  which 

The  salt  waves  dash.     The  cliffs,  high-turreted, 

Stretch  out  with  double  walls ;  the  temple  stands 

Back,  from  the  shore.     Here,  our  first  augury,  680 

We  see  four  snow-white  horses  grazing  free 

Amid  the  grass.     "  Ah,  hospitable  land," 

My  father  cries,  "  for  us  thou  bringest  war ! 

For  war  these  steeds  portend.    Yet  since  they  have  known 

The  chariot,  and  the  peaceful  yoke  and  reins,  685 

They  also  promise  peace."     The  sacred  power 

Of  Pallas  with  the  ringing  armor  then 

We  supplicate,  who  first  received  us,  glad 

To  gain  the  shore ;   and  at  the  altars  throw 

The  Phrygian  veil  about  our  heads ;  and  then,  690 

As  Helenus  prescribed,  due  offerings  burn 

To  Argive  Juno. 

Now,  without  delay, 
Our  vows  performed,  we  turn  our  sails,  and  leave 
The  dwellings  and  suspected  lands  of  men 
Of  Grecian  race.     And  next  Tarentum's  bay,  695 

Named,  if  report  be  true,  from  Hercules, 
Is  seen  ;   and  opposite  lifts  up  her  head 
The  goddess  of  Lacinia ;  and  the  heights 


Book     III.  I  2  f 

Appear  of  Caulon,  and  the  dangerous  rocks 

Of  Sylaceum.     Then  far  off  we  see  700 

Trinacrian  /Etna  rising  from  the  waves  ; 

And  now  we  hear  the  ocean's  awful  roar, 

The  breakers  dashing  on  the  rocks,  the  moan 

Of  broken  voices  on  the  shore.      The  deeps 

Leap  up,  and  sand  is  mixed  with  boiling  foam.  70s 

"  Charybdis  !  "  cries  Anchises  ;   "  lo,  the  cliffs, 

The  dreadful  rocks  that  Helenus  foretold  ! 

Save  us,  —  bear  off,  my  men  !     With  equal  stroke 

Bend  on  your  oars!  "     No  sooner  said  than  done. 

With  groaning  rudder  Palinurus  turns  710 

The  prow  to  the  left,  and  the  whole  cohort  strain 

W  ith  oar  and  sail,  and  seek  a  southern  course. 

The  curving  wave  one  moment  lifts  us  up 

Skyward,  then  sinks  us  down  as  in  the  shades 

Of  death.     Three  times  amid  their  hollow  caves  715 

The  cliffs  resound  ;  three  times  we  saw  the  foam 

Dashed,  —  that  the  stars  hung  dripping  wet  with  dew. 

Meanwhile,  abandoned  by  the  wind  and  sun, 

W  eary,  and  ignorant  of  our  course,  we  are  thrown 

I'pon  the  Cyclops'  shore. 

The  port  is  large,  720 

And  sheltered  from  the  winds.      But  /Etna  near, 
16 


122  The  j&neid. 

With  frightful  desolation  roars,  at  times 

Sending  up  bursts  of  black  clouds  in  the  air, 

With  rolling  smoke  of  pitch,  and  flashing  sparks, 

And  globes  of  flame  that  lick  the  very  stars.  721 

Then,  from  the  bowels  of  the  mountain  torn, 

Huge  stones  are  hurled,  and  melted  rocks  heaped  up, 

A  roaring  flood  of  fire.     'T  is  said  that  here 

Enceladus,  half  blasted  by  the  bolts 

Of  heaven,  was  thrust  beneath  the  mountainous  mass;  73° 

And  mighty  ^Etna,  piled  above,  sends  forth 

His  fiery  breathings  from  the  broken  flues ; 

And  every  time  he  turns  his  weary  sides, 

All  Sicily  groans  and  trembles,  and  the  sky 

Is  wreathed  in  smoke.     Sheltered  by  woods  that  night,  73s 

Strange  sounds  affright  us,  nor  can  we  detect 

Their  cause ;   for  in  the  sky  no  stars  appeared, 

And  all  the  heavens  were  black  with  murky  clouds, 

And  the  moon  shrouded  by  the  untimely  night. 

At  length  the  early  dawn  arose.     The  day  740 

Had  drawn  away  the  damp  shades  from  the  sky; 

When  suddenly  a  figure  from  the  woods, 

An  unknown  man  with  pale  and  wasted  looks 

And  miserably  clad,  appeared,  and  stretched 


Book  in.  12^ 

His  hands  in  supplication  toward  the  shore.  -45 

Closely  we  scan  him,  filthy,  with  long  beard, 
And  garment  pinned  with  thorns;    in  all  besides, 

A  Greek,  as  once  he  had  been  sent  to  tight 

With  Grecian  arms  'gainst  Troy.      lie,  when  he  saw 

From  far  our  Trojan  garments,  and  our  arms,  75° 

Awhile  in  terror  paused,  and  then  went  on  ; 

Then  rushing  headlong  to  the  shore  he  ran, 

With  tears  and  supplications  :   "  By  the  stars, 

The  gods,  the  respirable  air  and  light, — 

Take  me  away,  O  Trojans,  —  wheresoe'er  75s 

Ye  go  !     'T  will  be  enough  for  me.      I  own 

That  I  am  one  of  those  who  from  the  fleets 

Of  Greece  made  war  upon  your  household  gods. 

For  which,  if  my  offence  be  deemed  too  great, 

Tear  me  in  pieces,  —  throw  me  in  the  sea  ;  760 

At  least  I  then  shall  die  by  human  hands!" 

So  saying,  he  embraced  our  knees,  and  rolled 

Upon  the  ground,  still  clinging.      Urgently 

We  ask  his  name,  his  family,  and  what 

Hard  lot  pursues  him.     And  my  sire  himself  765 

At  once  presents  his  right  hand  to  the  youth, 

And  reassures  his  courage  with  that  pledge. 

Then,  laving  by  his  fears,  he  thus  began  :  — 


1 24  The   Alneid. 

"From  Ithaca  I  came,  my  native  land; 
My  name  is  Achemenides  ;   I  was  770 

Companion  of  Ulysses,  hapless  chief! 
My  father,  Adamastus,  being  poor, 
I  went  to  Troy.      (Would  that  my  state  remained 
As  once  it  was!  )      My  comrades  left  me  here, 
Unmindful,  in  the  Cyclops'  cavern  vast, —  775 

When  from  this  cruel  shore  they  fled  in  fear,  — 
A  huge  and  gloomy  den  defiled  with  gore 
And  bloody  feasts.     He,  towering,  strikes  the  stars. 
(Ye  gods,  remove  such  scourges  from  the  earth  ! ) 
Not  to  be  seen  or  heard  without  a  thrill  780 

Of  horror,  —  on  the  entrails  and  the  blood 
Of  miserable  men  he  feeds.     I  myself  saw, 
When,  with  his  huge  hand  seizing  two  of  us, 
Back  bending  in  the  middle  of  his  cave, 
Fie  broke  their  bones  upon  a  rock,  and  all  785 

The  threshold,  spattered,  swam  with  human  blood. 
I  saw  him  when  he  chewed  their  limbs,  that  dripped 
Dark  blood,  the  warm  flesh  quivering  in  his  teeth  ;  — 
Not  unrevenged  ;  —  nor  did  Ulysses  bear 
Such  things;   nor  was  the  chief  of  Ithaca  79= 

Forgetful  of  himself  in  such  an  hour. 
For  when,  full  of  his  food,  and  sunk  in  wine, 


Book  ///.  125 

He  threw  his  length  immense  upon  the  floor, 
Belching  the  gore  and  gobbets  in  his  sleep, 

Mingled  with  wine,  we,  praying  to  the  gods,  79s 

And  casting  lots,  surround  him  on  all  sides, 

And  with  a  weapon  sharp  the  eyeball  pierced, 

That  huge  and  simile  'neath  his  scowling  hrow 

Glared,  like  a  Grecian  shield,  or  Phoebus'  lamp. 

And  so  at  last  we  joyfully  avenged  800 

The  shades  of  our  companions.      But  fly,  fly, 

Unhappy  men  !     Loose  from  the  shore  your  ropes. 

For  vast  as  stands  this  Polyphemus  there, 

Penning  his  woollv  sheep,  or  milking  them 

In  his  dark  cave,  a  hundred  more  there  are  805 

W  ho  haunt  these  winding  shores,  or  wander  high 

Among  the  mountains.      Now  three  moons  have  rilled 

Their  horns  since  I  have  dragged  my  life  along 

In  forests,  and  in  desert  haunts  of  beasts; 

And  the  huge  Cyclops  from  the  rocks  I  see,  sio 

And  tremble  at  their  voices  and  their  steps. 

A  wretched  food  the  branches  have  supplied  ; 

Berries  and  stony  cornels,  and  the  roots 

Of   plants  torn  from  the  earth,  have  fed  me  long. 

Looking  around  on  all  .sides,  I  at  length 

ried  your  fleet,  as  it  approached  these  shores. 


126  The   sEneid. 

Whate'er  it  might  be,  I  resolved  to  yield 

Myself  to  it.      Enough  that  I  've  escaped 

That  dreadful  race ;   rather  take  ye  my  life, 

By  whatsoever  death  ye  choose  to  ordain."  820 

Scarce  had  he  spoken,  when  on  a  mountain-top 

We  saw  the  shepherd  Polypheme  himself, 

With  his  vast  bulk,  stalking  among  his  sheep, — 

An  awful  monster,  huge,  misshaped,  and  blind.  - 

Down  to  his  well-known  shores  he  came.     His  hand    825 

A  pine-trunk  held,  and  steadied  thus  his  feet. 

His  woolly  sheep  accompanied  his  steps, 

His  sole  delight  and  solace  in  his  woes. 

When  to  the  deep  sea  he  had  come,  he  bathed 

The  gory  socket  where  his  eye  had  been,  830 

Gnashing  his  teeth  with  groans.    Then  through  the  waves 

He  wades;   the  billows  scarcely  reach  his  sides. 

Trembling,  we  haste  to  fly  ;   and  take  away 

With  us  the  stranger,  as  he  well  deserved  ; 

Silently  cut  the  ropes,  and  bending,  row,  835 

And  sweep  the  sea  with  our  contending  oars. 

He  hears  a  voice,  and  toward  the  sound  he  turns. 

But  when  he  cannot  reach  us  with  his  hands, 

Nor  dare  the  depths  of  the  Ionian  seas 


Book    in.  i  >j 

In  his  pursuit,  with  outcry  terrible 

He  clamors,  that  the  ocean  and  its  waves 

Tremble  with  fear;  affrighted  It.ilv 

Shudders;  and  /Etna  with  its  hollow  caves 

Reverberates  the  roar.      Hut  from  the  woods 

And  mountains  rush  the  uproused  Cyclop  tribe, 

Swarming  upon  the  shore.      We  see  them  stand, 

The  /F.tnean  brothers,  each  with  glaring  eye, 

Powerless  for  harm,  their  lofty  heads  high  raised, 

A  dread  assembly  ;   as  on  some  high  hill 

Stand  windy  oaks,  or  cone-clad  cypress-trees,  85o 

Jove's  lofty  forests,  or  Diana's  groves. 

Sharp  fear  impels  us  to  unreef  our  sails 

With  speed,  and  take  whatever  winds  may  blow 

To  favor  us.      Still,  Helenus'  commands 

We  bear  in  mind,  that  warned  us  not  to  steer  855 

'Twixt  Scylla  and  Charybdis,  each  the  way 

Of  death,  with  little  choice.      Backward  we  tend; 

When  lo,  a  north-wind  from  Pelorus  sent 

Came  blowing;  and  we  passed  Pantagia's  mouth 

Of   rock,  the  bay  of  Megara,  and  coast 

01  Thapsa,  lying  low;  so  all  these  shores 

Di  1  Achemenides,  Ulysses'  mate, 

Point  out,  retracing  his  own  wandering  course. 


128  The   sEneid. 

Stretching  in  front  of  the  Sicanian  bay, 

And  opposite  wave-washed  Plemmyrium,  lies  865 

An  isle,  to  which  the  ancients  gave  the  name 

Ortygia.     Hither,  so  the  legends  say, 

Alpheus,  Elis'  river,  underneath 

The  ocean  found  a  secret  way,  and  now 

Mingles  with  Arethusa's  stream,  and  flows  s7o 

With  the  Sicilian  waves.     Here,  as  prescribed, 

We  adore  the  deities  who  rule  the  place. 

Thence,  passing  the  fat  soil  and  stagnant  stream 

Of  the  Helorus,  by  Pachynus'  crags 

Of  tall  and  jagged  rock,  we  coast  along  ;  87s 

And  Camarina,  which  the  fates  forbade 

That  they  should  ever  drain,  is  seen  afar; 

And  Gela,  with  its  city,  fields,  and  stream. 

Steep  Agrigentum  shows  her  stately  walls, 

Once  famed  for  mettled  steeds.     We  leave  behind  sso 

Palmy  Selinus,  and  the  dangerous  shoals 

And  rocks  of  Lilybeum.     Then  the  port 

Of  Drepanum  receives  me, — joyless  shore!  — 

For  here,  so  long  by  tempests  driven,  at  last, 

Alas,  I  lose  Anchises,  honored  sire,  ss5 

Who  was  the  solace  of  my  cares  and  griefs. 

Here,  best  of  fathers,  thou  didst  leave  me,  sad 


BOOk         I  If.  |2g 

And  worn;   thou,  from  so  many  perils  snatched, 

Alas,  now  all  in  vain  !      Nor  had  the  seer 

Helenus,  when  so  many  dread  events  8  0 

In  vision  he  foretold,  predicted  grief 

Like  this  to  me;   nor  said  Celirno  aueht 

This  was  my  latest  suffering,  this  the  close 

My  long,  long  wanderings  found.     Thence  borne  away, 

Some  deity  has  brought  me  to  your  shores. 


89S 


Thus  while  they  listened  all,  ^neas  told 
His  tale  of  fates  divine,  and  all  his  course 
At  length  he  rested,  having  made  an  end. 


17 


BOOK    IV. 

DUT  pierced  with  grievous  pangs  long  since,  the  queen 
^^^    Feeds  in  her  veins  the  wound,  by  secret  fire 

Consumed.     The  hero's  many  virtues  oft 

Recur  to  her  mind,  and  glories  of  his  race. 

Within  her  heart  his  looks,  his  words  are  fixed ;  s 

Her  troubled  soul  allows  her  limbs  no  rest. 

Now  Morn  with  Phoebus'  torch  illumed  the  earth, 

Driving  the  dewy  shadows  from  the  sky; 

When  with  mind  ill  at  ease,  she  thus  addressed 

Her  loving  sister  :   "  Anna,  sister  dear,  10 

What  dreams  affright  and  fill  me  with  suspense ! 

What  wondrous  guest  into  our  courts  has  come  ? 

What  bearing  in  his  mien  !     How  brave  he  seems   . 

In  spirit  and  in  arms!     I  do  believe 

(No  groundless  faith)  his  lineage  is  divine.  15 

Fear  shows  degenerate  souls.     Ah,  by  what  fates 

Has  he  been  buffeted,  —  what  weary  wars! 


Book    ir.  131 

if  in  my  mind  the  purpose  were  not  fixed, 

To  ally  myself    with  none  in  nuptial  chains, 

Since  my  first  love  was  baffled  by  tal.se  death  ; 

It"  marriage  bed  and  bridal  torch  were  not 

A  weary  thought,  —  perhaps  I  might  succumb 

To  this  one  fault.      For  I  confess  to  thee, 

Anna,  that  since  Sychaeus'  wretched  fate, 

When  by  a  brother's  crime  our  household  gods  »s 

Were  stained  with  blood,  this  one  alone  has  stirred 

My  feelings,  and  impressed  my  wavering  mind. 

I  see  the  traces  of  my  earlier  riame. 

But  I  would  rather  that  the  steadfast  earth 

Should  yawn  beneath  me,  from  its  lowest  depths,  3° 

Or  the  Omnipotent  Father  hurl  me  down 

With  thunder  to  the  shades,  the  pallid  shades 

Of  Erebus,  and  night  profound,  ere  thee, 

O  sacred  shame,  I  violate,  or  break 

Thy  laws.      He  who  first  joined  me  to  himself  35 

Took  away  all  my  love.     Let  him  still  hold 

And  guard  it  in  his  sepulchre."     She  said; 

And  bathed  her  breast  with  tears  she  could  not  check. 

Anna  replied:   "  O,  dearer  than  the  light 
Into  thy  sister!      Wilt  thou  waste  away, 


1 3  2  The   ^Eneid. 


Lonely  and  sad,  thy  bloom  of  youth,  nor  know 

Of  children  sweet,  nor  the  rewards  of  love  ? 

Or  dost  thou  think  the  ashes  of  the  dead, 

Or  that  the  buried  ghosts  will  care  for  this? 

Grant  that,  while  grief  was  fresh,  no  suitor  gained  45 

Thy  heart,  of  Lybia,  or  before,  of  Tyre ; 

Iarbas  slighted,  and  the  leaders  all 

Whom  Africa,  replete  with  triumphs,  bore ; 

Yet  wilt  thou  fight  against  congenial  love  ? 

Dost  thou  remember  whose  the  fields  whereon  5° 

Thou  art  seated  ?     Here  Ga?tulian  cities  stand, 

And  gird  thee  round,  —  the  unconquerable  race, — 

Unreined  Numidian  bands,  —  and  they  who  haunt 

The  inhospitable  Syrtes ;  there  a  tract 

Of  thirsty  desert,  and  the  raging  tribes  55 

Of  Barca.     Why  of  wars  that  loom  in  Tyre 

Need  that  I  speak,  or  of  thy  brother's  threats  ? 

By  auspices  divine,  I  must  believe, 

And  Juno's  favor  't  was,  the  Trojan  ships 

Were  driven  hither.      What  a  city  thine  6o 

Will  be!     What  kingdoms  from  such  union  spring! 

With  Teucrian  forces  joined  to  ours,  to  what 

A  height  of  power  will  Punic  glory  rise! 

Only  do  thou  ask  favor  of  the  gods, 


Book   iv%  133 

With  all  due  rites,  and  hospitality  65 

Accord,  devising  reasons  for  delay, 

While  on  the  sea  the  stormy  winter  raves, 

And  waterv  Orion,  and  his  ships 

Are  shattered,  and  the  inclement  sky  still  frowns." 

With  words  like  these  she  fanned  the  flame  of  love         70 

Within  her  soul ;   gave  hope  to  her  doubting  mind, 

And  freed  her  from  the  scruples  for  her  fame. 

First  to  the  shrines  they  go,  and  pray  for  peace 
Before  the  altars.     Choice  sheep  two  years  old, 
As  rule  prescribed,  to  Ceres,  giver  of  laws,  75 

Phcebus,  and  Bacchus,  there  they  sacrifice  ; 
And  above  all,  to  Juno,  who  hath  care 
Of  marriage  ties.     Herself  fair  Dido  holds 
And  pours  the  cup  between  the  white  cow's  horns; 
Or,  at  the  unctuous  altars,  to  and  fro  80 

She  moves,  before  the  presence  of  the  gods ; 
Renews  the  gifts  all  day  ;   and  bending  o'er 
The  victims'  opened  breasts,  with  parted  lips 
Of  eager  hope,  consults  the  entrails  still 
Breathing  with  life.     Alas,  the  ignorance 
Of  all  prophetic  lore!      What  vows,  what  ^hrin 
Can  help  her  raging  love?      The  soft  rlame  bur: 
Meanwhile,  the  marrow  of  her  life;    the  wound 


134  The  sEneid. 

Lives  silently,  and  rankles  'neath  her  breast. 

The  unhappy  Dido  through  the  city  roams  90 

With  burning  bosom;  as  a  heedless  deer 

Wandering  far  off  amid  the  Cretan  woods, 

Struck  by  the  random  arrow  of  some  swain, 

Who  sends  his  flying  dart,  nor  knows  the  while 

Where  it  has  sped  :   but  she  through  woods  and  wilds     95 

Roams,  the  fell  shaft  still  sticking  in  her  side. 

Now  she  conducts  iEneas  through  the  midst 
Of  walls  and  battlements,  and  shows  her  wealth 
Sidonian,  as  if  all  were  built  for  him  : 
Begins  to  speak,  and  half-way  checks  her  yoice;  100 

At  eve,  impatient  waits  the  banquet  hour, 
And  asks  again  to  hear  his  Trojan  tale 
Of  sorrows,  and  infatuated  hangs 
Upon  the  speaker's  lips.     And  now  when  all 
Have  gone,  and  the  dim  moon  withdraws  her  light,       105 
And  the  declining  stars  invite  to  rest, 
Alone  through  all  the  empty  house  she  sighs, 
And  on  the  banquet  couch  he  left  reclines; 
And  hears  and  sees  him  though  he  is  not  near. 
Or  in  her  lap  Ascanius  she  detains,  no 

Snared  by  the  father's  image  in  the  son, 
If  haply  thus  she  may  but  cheat  her  love 


Book  iv. 


5D 


Unutterable.     Towers  that  were  begun 

Now  cease  to  rise.      The  warrior  youths  no  more 

Engage  in  martial  exercise;   nor  ports  us 

Nor  bulwarks  are  prepared  for  war.      All  works 

Hang  interrupted,  both  the  ramparts  huge, 

And  scaffoldings  that  climbed  toward  the  sky. 

When  Juno  saw  that  such  a  subtle  pest 

P  messed  the  queen,  regardless  of  her  fame  no 

In  her  mad  passion,  she  to  Venus  thus 

Addressed  her  speech  :   "  Rare  praise,  and  ample  spoils 

Thou  bring'st  indeed,  —  thou,  and  that  son  of  thine. 

A  great  and  memorable  act  of  power, 

W  hen  by  the  guile  of  two  divinities  ns 

One  woman  is  o'ercome !     Nor  have  I  failed 

To  see  that  thou  hast  feared  our  city's  walls, 

Suspicious  of  our  Carthaginian  rule. 

What  limit  will  there  be  to  this?      Or  why 

Such  contests?     Why  not  rather  bring  about  130 

Eternal  peace,  and  binding  marriage  rites? 

W  hat  thou  didst  seek  with  all  thy  mind,  thou  hast. 

Ardently  Dido  loves;   through  all  her  limbs 

Her  passion  beats.      Then  let  us  henceforth  rule 

W  ith  equal  auspices  this  people  :    she 


136  The  Alneid. 

To  serve  a  Phrygian  husband,  he  to  accept 
From  thee  her  Tyrians  as  a  marriage  dower." 

Then  Venus  answered  (for  she  saw  her  deep 

Dissembling  mind,  whose  scheming  would  avert 

Italia's  kingdom  to  the  Lybian  shores)  :  —  140 

"  Who  is  so  void  of  sense  he  can  refuse 

Such  terms,  or  who  would  strive  with  thee  in  war  ? 

If  only  what  thou  say'st  might  prove  success 

When  done.      But  I  am  uncertain  what  the  fates 

Decree,  whether  it  be  the  will  of  Jove  145 

That  Tyrians  and  Trojans  here  should  dwell 

In  the  same  city,  mixing  race  with  race, 

And  joining  hands  as  allies.     Thou  'rt  his  spouse. 

For  thee  't  is  lawful  with  thy  prayers  to  sound 

His  deep  intent.     Go  on.     I  follow  thee."  15° 

Then  thus  the  royal  Juno  :   "  Be  it  mine 

That  task.     And  now  my  reasons,  and  the  affair 

Most  urgent,  can  be  briefly  said.     Attend, 

And  I  will  tell  thee.     When  to-morrow's  sun 

Shall  light  the  world,  the  unhappy  Dido  goes,  15s 

Attended  by  i£neas,  to  the  woods, 

Prepared  for  hunting.     While  the  plumage  bright 


Book  IV.  i  \j 

Is  fluttering  in  the  wind,  and  they  surround 

The  thicket  with  their  nets,  I  from  above 

Will  thunder  through  the  heavens,  and  on  them  po 

A  dark  storm  mixed  with  hail.     The  attendants  all 
By  different  ways  will  fly,  covered  by  clouds 
And  darkness.      Dido  and  the  Trojan  prince 
To  the  same  cave  for  shelter  will  repair. 
I  will  he  there,  and,  if  thy  will  be  mine, 
Will  join  them  in  firm  wedlock,  and  declare 
Their  union.     There  the  nuptial  rites  shall  be." 

Not  adverse,  Cytherea  nods  assent 
To  her  request,  and  smiles  at  the  open  fraud. 

Meanwhile  Aurora  from  the  ocean  wakes;  170 

And  with  the  risen  morning  star  come  bands 

Of  chosen  youths  forth  from  the  city  gates, 

W  ith  nets  and  snares,  and  broad-tipped  hunting-spears, 

vlian  riders  and  keen-scented  hounds. 
At  the  palace  doors  the  Punic  lords  await  175 

The  queen  within  her  chamber  tarrying  long. 
Splendid  in  gold  and  purple  stands  her  steed, 
And  fiercely  champs  upon  his  foaming  bit. 
At  length  she  issues  forth,  with  all  her  train. 
A  rich  Sidonian  scarf  with  broidered  hem  180 

iS 


138  The  Aineid. 

She  wears  ;  her  quiver  is  of  gold  ;  her  hair 

In  golden  knots  is  bound  ;   a  golden  clasp 

Confines  her  robe  of  purple  at  the  waist. 

Also  the  Phrygian  knights  come  moving  on  ; 

Joyous  lulus  too.     Most  beautiful  185 

Among  them  all,  iEneas  comes,  and  joins 

The  troop.     As  when  Apollo  leaves  behind 

The  wintry  Lycia,  and  the  Xanthian  waves, 

And  to  his  native  Delos  turns  again  ; 

There  he  renews  the  dances,  and  around  19° 

The  altars  Cretans,  mixed  with  Dryops,  shout, 

And  painted  Agathyrsi ;  he  himself 

Moves  on  the  top  of  Cynthus,  and  adjusts 

His  flowing  hair,  binding  it  round  with  leaves 

Fastened  with  gold  ;  upon  his  shoulders  ring  195 

His  arrows.     So,  no  slower  in  his  pace, 

./Eneas  moves.     So  in  his  countenance 

The  radiant  beauty  shines. ^ 

I  Now  they  had  gained 
The  mountains  steep,  and  pathless  haunts  of  beasts. 
Lo,  here  the  wild  goats,  from  the  topmost  rocks  *=° 

Dislodged,  run  down  the  ridges;   there  the  deer 
Huddle  in  dusty  squadrons.      But  the  boy 
Ascanius  through  the  valleys  bounds  along 


Book   iv.  1 3  9 

Rejoicing,  on  his  mettled  Steed  ;   and  now 
This  way  pursues,  now  that,  —  and  much  desires  *os 

That  'mid  the  timid  herds  he  might  pursue 
A  foaming  boar,  or  see  a  lion  come, 
With  tawny  skin,  down  from  the  mountain-sides. 

Meanwhile  the  sky  begins  to  be  disturbed 

With  muttering  thunder;  and  a  storm  ensues  *io 

Of  mingled  rain  and  hail.     The  Tyrian  knights 

The  Trojan  youths,  and  young  Ascanius,  all 

In  fear  seek  different  shelter  here  and  there 

About  the  fields.     The  swollen  streams  rush  down 

The  mountains.      Dido  and  the  Trojan  prince  -'5 

In  the  same  cave  find  refuge.     Tellus  then, 

And  Juno,  goddess  of  the  nuptial  ties, 

Give  signal.     Lightnings  flash  around.     The  sky 

Is  witness  of  the  hymeneal  rites ; 

And  from  the  mountain  summits  shriek  the  nymphs. 

That  day  first  proved  the  source  of  death  ;  that  first 

The  origin  of  woes.      For  neither  now 

By  seeming  or  good  fame  is  Dido  moved; 

r  does  she  meditate  clandestine  love. 
She  calls  it  marriage  ;   and  beneath  this  name 
Conceals  her  fault. 


1 40  The   Aineid. 

Then  through  the  cities  wide 
Of  Lybia,  all  at  once  flies  Rumor  forth,  — 
Rumor,  than  whom  no  evil  is  more  swift. 
She  grows  by  motion,  gathers  strength  by  flight. 
Small  at  the  first,  through  fear,  soon  to  the  skies  ^^o 

She  lifts  herself.     She  walks  upon  the  ground, 
And  hides  her  head  in  clouds.     Her  parent  Earth, 
Wroth,  so  they  say,  at  the  anger  of  the  gods, 
Gave  birth  to  her,  her  latest  progeny, 
Sister  to  Coeus  and  Enceladus ;  235 

With  nimble  feet,  and  swift  persistent  wings, 
A  monster  huge  and  terrible  is  she. 
As  many  feathers  as  her  body  bears, 
So  many  watchful  eyes  beneath  them  lurk, 
So  many  tongues  and  mouths,  and  ears  erect.  ^40 

By  night  'twixt  heaven  and  earth  she  flies,  through  shades, 
With  rushing  wings,  nor  shuts  her  eyes  in  sleep. 
By  day  she  watches  from  the  roofs  or  towers ; 
And  the  great  cities  fills  with  haunting  fears ; 
As  prone  to  crime  and  falsehood  as  to  truth,  *k 

She  with  her  gossip  multifold  now  filled 
The  people's  ears,  rejoicing,  —  fiction  and  fact 
Alike  proclaiming;   now  that  ./Eneas,  born 
Of  Trojan  blood,  had  come,  whom  Dido  thought 


Book   ir.  141 

Worthy  her  hand  in  marriage  ;    now  that  they 
Were  passing  the  long  winter  in  delight 
Of  luxury,  unmindful  of  their  realms, 

Captive  to  low  desires.      The  goddess  base 
Pours  here  and  there  into  the  mouths  of  men 

Such  things ;   then  far  off  turns  her  course,  and  flies 
To  King  Iarbas,  and  inflames  his  mind 
With  sayings,  and  his  anger  aggravates. 

He,  sprung  from  Amnion,  and  the  forced  embrace 

Of  a  Garamantian  nymph,  to  Jove  had  built 

A  hundred  altars  and  a  hundred  fanes  260 

In  his  broad  realms,  and  consecrated  there 

The  eternal  watch  and  vigil  hres  divine  ; 

And  all  the  ground  was  fat  with  blood  of  flocks: 

And  the  doors  decked  with  wreaths  of  various  hue. 

He,  turious,  it  is  said,  and  in  his  soul  »65 

Inflamed  by  bitter  Rumor,  prayed  to  Jove 

Before  the  altars  and  the  sacred  shrines, 

Suppliant,  with  earnest  words  and  lifted  hands:  — 

M0  Jove  Omnipotent,  to  whom  the  race 

Maurusian,  feasting  on  embroidered  couches, 

Leniran  honors  pours,  see'st  thou  these  thin: 

W  hen  thou  dost  hurl  on  us  thy  flaming  holts, 


142  The  Aineid. 

O  Father,  shall  we  feel  no  fear  of  thee  ? 

And  are  thy  lightnings  blind,  that  in  the  clouds 

Affright  us,  and  their  thunder  empty  noise  ?  17s 

A  wandering  woman,  who  in  our  domains 

Has  built  a  paltry  city  for  a  price, 

To  whom  we  gave  a  piece  of  land  to  till 

And  rule  with  laws,  now  spurns  our  suit,  and  takes 

/Eneas  to  her  kingdom  for  her  lord.  280 

And  now  this  Paris,  with  effeminate  crew, 

Tying  his  Lydian  cap  beneath  his  chin, 

His  hair  all  moist  with  perfume,  can  possess 

The  prize  he  snatches,  while  to  thy  temples  we 

Forsooth  bring  gifts,  and  nurse  an  empty  fame."  **$ 

So  praying,  holding  fast  the  altar's  horns, 

The  omnipotent  father  heard,  and  turned  his  eyes 

Toward  the  royal  city,  and  the  pair, 

Forgetting  in  their  love  their  better  fame. 

To  Mercury  then  he  spoke  and  gave  commands :  29° 

"  Go  hasten  now,  my  son,  and  call  to  thee 

The  Zephyrs,  and  upon  their  pinions  glide; 

And  to  the  Trojan  leader  speak,  who  now 

Lingers  in  Tyrian  Carthage,  nor  regards 

The  future  cities  given  him  by  the  fates ;  *95 


Booh    ir.  14^ 

Ami  swiftly  hear  this  message  through  the  skies; 

Not  such  an  one  his  fairest  mother  gave 

To  us  in  promise,  and  so  shielded  twice 

From  Grecian  swords  :    but  that  he  should  he  one 

To  rule  Italia,  freighted  with  the  weight  3  » 

0(  empire,  fierce  in  war,  and  prove  his  race 

To  be  ot  Teucer's  lofty  lineage, 

And  make  the  whole  world  subject  to  his  laws. 

If  oi~  such  deeds  no  glory  kindles  him, 

And  for  his  own  renown  he  meditates  335 

No  great  emprise,  yet  does  the  father  grudge 

Ascanius  the  Roman  citadels  ? 

What  plan  does  he  pursue  ?     Or  with  what  hope 

Does  he  delay  among  a  hostile  race, 

Nor  think  of  his  Ausonian  progeny,  310 

And  the  Lavinian  fields?     No,  let  him  sail  ! 

Such  our  decree.     Our  messenger  be  thou  !  " 

The  mighty  father's  great  command  the  god 

Prepares  to  obey.      And  first  upon  his  feet 

He  binds  his  golden  sandals,  with  their  wings  -,■; 

That  bear  him  high  aloft  o'er  sea  and  land, 

Rapidly  as  the  blast.      His  wand  he  takes; 

^  ith  this  he  calls  the  pale  ghosts  from  the  shades* 


144  The  Aineid. 

And  others  sends  to  gloomy  Tartarus ; 

Gives  sleep,  and  takes,  and  opens  once  again  3*0 

The  eyes  of  the  dead.     With  this  he  drives  the  winds, 

And  swims  across  the  murky  clouds.     And  now, 

Flying,  he  sees  the  summit  and  steep  sides 

Of  rugged  Atlas,  bearing  up  the  sky;  — 

Atlas,  whose  piny  head  is  bound  about  325 

Forever  with  black  clouds,  —  by  winds  and  rains 

Beaten,  — his  shoulders  veiled  in  drifted  snow; 

And  down  his  aged  chin  dash  waterfalls, 

And  all  his  bristly  beard  is  stiff  with  ice. 

Here  first  Cyllenius  lit  with  balanced  wings ;  33° 

And  hence  he  plunges  headlong  toward  the  waves, 

Like  to  a  bird  which  round  about  the  shores 

And  fishy  rocks  flies  low,  close  to  the  sea ; 

So  between  earth  and  sky  he  flew,  and  skimmed 

The  sandy  beach  and  cut  the  Lybian  winds.*  335 

When  with  his  winged  feet,  among  the  huts 

Of  the  new  city  he  alights,  he  sees 

JEneas  founding  towers  and  houses  new, — 

His  sword-hilt  starred  with  yellow  jasper  stones  ; 

*  I  have  intentionally  omitted  the  line  "  Materno  veniens  ab  avo  Cyllcnia 
proles,"  for  three  reason:  I,  It  is  superfluous;  2.  It  is  awkward  and  out  of 
place  ;  3.   It  belongs  to  a  passage  whose  authenticity  is  suspected.  —  Tr. 


Book    jr.  i. j 5 

Ami  from  his  shoulders  hung  a  Tynan  cloak 

Of  brilliant  hues,  the  sumptuous  Dido's  gift, 

And  wrought  by  her  with  slender  threads  of  gold. 

Forthwith  he  addresses  him  :    "  Is  this  a  time 

To  lay  the  stones  of  Carthage,  and  build  up, 

Obedient  to  thy  dame,  the  lofty  walls  345 

Of  her  fair  city?      Alas,  forgetting  all 

Thy  own  affairs  and  kingdom  !      From  the  clear 

Olympian  heights,  the  Ruler  of  the  gods, 

By  whose  great  will  the  heavens  and  earth  revolve, 

Hath  sent  me  down  to  thee,  and  this  command  350 

I  bring.      What  plan  art  thou  pursuing  here  ? 

Or  with  what  hope  dost  thou  consume  thy  time 

In  Lybian  lands?     If  glory  of  great  deeds 

Kindles  thee  not,  if  for  thine  own  renown 

Thou  meditat'st  no  great  emprise,  at  least  355 

Regard  Ascanius'  hopes,  —  thy  rising  heir, 

To  whom  are  due  the  realms  of  Italy 

And  Rome."     Thus  having  said,  Cyllenius  left, 

n  as  he  spoke,  the  sphere  of  mortal  sight, 
And  in  the  thin  air  vanished  far  away.  36a 

Dumb  and  bewildered  at  the  vision  then 
as  stood,  with  hair  erect  with  tear, 
19 


1 46  The   Alneid. 

And  gasping  voice.     He  burned  to  fly  and  leave 

These  pleasant  regions,  stunned  by  such  command 

And  warning  of  the  gods.     And  yet,  alas  !  365 

What  shall  he  do  ?     With  what  speech  shall  he  now 

Dare  to  appease  the  raging  queen  ?     How  first 

Begin  to  speak  ?     And  now  his  rapid  thoughts 

Fly  this  way  and  now  that,  in  various  ways 

Impelled,  but  wide  of  all  decision  still  ;  370 

Till  to  his  dubious  mind  one  course  seems  best. 

Mnestheus  and  Sergestus  then  he  calls,  > 

And  strong  Serestus,  bidding  them  equip 

With  silent  speed  the  fleet ;  and  to  the  shore 

Urge  their  companions,  and  prepare  their  arms,  375 

Dissembling  the  design  of  this  new  change. 

Meanwhile,  since  generous  Dido,  ignorant 

Of  all,  dreams  not  of  broken  ties  of  love, 

He  will  attempt  means  of  approach,  and  find 

The  hour  most  soft,  the  time  most  fit,  for  speech.  380 

Then  all  prepare  to  obey  with  joyful  speed, 

And  execute  his  orders. 

But  the  queen 
(Who  can  deceive  a  lover  ?)   soon  foreknew 
His  wiles,  and  saw  at  once  his  future  plans, 
Fearing  e'en  what  was  safe.      Her  excited  ears  38s 


Book  ir.  i  17 

Heard  that  same  wicked  Rumor  bring  report 

Of  the  fleet  arming,  and  the  voyage  planned. 

Distracted,  through  the  city  then  she  raves, 

As  when  a  Bacchante  by  the  opening  rites 

U  roused,  that  celebrate  the  festival,  390 

When  the  triennial  orgies  fire  her  soul, 

And  all  around  the  name  of  Bacchus  rings, 

Echoed  from  Mount  Citha?ron  through  the  night. 

At  length  /Eneas  she  encounters  thus  :  — 

"  And  didst  thou  hope,  perfidious  one,  to  hide,  39s 

Di-^embling,  thy  base  deed,  and  steal  away 

Secretly  from  my  land  ?      Cannot  my  love 

For  thee,  cannot  this  hand  once  given  as  thine, 

Nor  Dido  ready  here  to  die  for  thee 

A  cruel  death,  detain  thee  ?     Ay,  in  haste  400 

To  equip  thy  fleet  beneath  a  wintry  star, 

And  sail  the  deep  by  bitter  north-winds  driven  ? 

Cruel !      Why  even  if  ancient  Troy  still  stood, 

And  thou  wert  thither  bound, —  not  to  strange  lands 

And  unknown  homes,  —  thou  wouldst  not  trust  thy  ships 

On  such  a  stormy  sea!      Fly'st  thou  from  me?  406 

Ah,  by  these  tears,  and  by  this  hand  of  thine 

(Since  to  me,  wretched,  nothing  else  is  left), 


1 48  The   sEneid. 

By  our  marriage  tie,  our  nuptial  rites  begun, 

If  any  favor  I  deserved  of  thee,  410 

Or  if  in  anything  I  have  been  sweet 

And  dear  to  thee,  pity  this  falling  house! 

I  do  beseech  thee,  if  there  yet  be  room 

For  entreaty,  change,  ah,  change  that  fixed  intent  I 

For  thee  I  braved  the  Lybian  people's  hate ;  415 

For  thee,  the  tyrants  of  Numidia  spurned  ; 

The  Tyrians  I  have  angered.      For  thy  sake 

My  honor  has  been  lost,  and  that  fair  name 

I  held  in  earlier  days,  by  which  alone 

I  was  ascending  to  the  very  stars.  410 

To  whom  dost  thou  relinquish  me,  who  soon 

Must  perish,  —  O  my  guest?  —  since  this  sole  name 

Remains  instead  of  husband.     Why  do  I  wait  ? 

To  see  Pygmalion  my  brother  lay 

My  walls  in  dust,  or  the  Gaetulian  chief  4*5 

Iarbas  lead  me  captive  ?     If  at  least, 

Before  thou  leavest  me,  I  might  have  had 

Some  offspring  of  our  love,  some  little  /Eneas 

Playing  about  my  halls,  who  would  recall 

Only  thy  features,  then  I  would  not  seem  43° 

So  utterly  deserted  and  deceived." 


Book    ir.  ]  ,  | 

She  paused.      But  he  by  Jove's  monitions  held 
Immovable  his  eves,  and,  struggling  hard, 
Suppressed  the  anguish  rising  in  his  heart. 

At  length  he  briefly  spoke:   "Never  will  I  4-,; 

Deny,  my  queen,  that  thou  hast  heaped  on  me 
Abundant  favors,  which  thou  canst  recount 
In  speaking.      Never  while  my  memory  lasts, 
And  while  the  breath  of  life  directs  these  limbs, 
Shall  I  forget  my  Elissa.      Let  me  now  44° 

Speak  briefly  of  this  matter.     Think  not  I 
Expected  this  departure  to  conceal 
By  secret  plans.     Nor  did  I  e'er  pretend 
A  marriage  bond,  or  compact  such  as  this. 
Had  fate  permitted  I  should  lead  my  life  445 

Under  my  own  direction,  and  put  off 
My  burdens  at  my  will,  I  should  have  first 
II. id  care  for  Trov,  and  for  the  dear  remains 
Of   my  own  people.      Priam's  lofty  roofs 
W  ould  have  remained,  and  Pergamus  again, 
Rebuilt  by  me,  take  back  our  conquered  race. 
Hut  now  (Jrvn;ran  Apollo  points  the  way 
I    1  halv.      To  Italv  commands 
The  word  of  the  Lycsean  oracle. 
This  is  my  love,  my  country  this.     If  thee, 


150  The  Aineid. 

Phoenician  born,  the  Lybian  lands  detain, 

Why  envy  that  we  Trojans  seek  to  fix 

Upon  Ausonian  ground?     It  is  but  just 

We  look  for  foreign  kingdoms.     Many  a  time    . 

When  night  lies  on  the  earth  with  shadows  moist,  460 

And  fiery  stars  are  rising  in  the  east, 

My  sire  Anchises'  troubled  ghost  affrights 

My  dreams,  and  warns  me.     And  then  too  my  boy 

Ascanius,  and  the  injury  I  've  done 

To  this  dear  head,  —  defrauding  him  of  that  465 

Hesperian  kingdom  and  those  destined  lands. 

Now  too  the  messenger  of  the  gods,  sent  down 

By  Jove  himself  (I  swear  it  by  thy  life 

And  mine),  has  brought  his  mandate  through  the  air. 

I  myself  saw  the  god  in  open  light  47° 

Enter  the  walls,  and  with  these  ears  I  heard 

His  voice.     Cease  then  with  thy  complaints  to  inflame 

Me  and  thyself.     Not  of  my  own  accord 

Do  I  seek  Italia." 

While  he  spoke  these  words, 
For  a  long  time  she  looked  at  him  askance,  4-5 

With  eyes  that  darted  here  and  there,  and  scanned 
His  form  with  silent  gaze;   then,  flaming,  spoke:  — 
"  No  goddess  ever  bore  thee,  traitor  ;  no, 


Book    ir. 


i  S  i 


Nor  Dardanus  was  founder  of  thy  race! 

Rough  Caucasus  on  flinty  rocks  gave  birth  tfo 

To  thee ;  —  Hyrcanian  tigers  gave  thee  suck  ! 

For  why  should  I  dissemble?     Or  what  wrongs 

Greater  can  I  await  ?  —  Did  he  once  sigh 

When  I  was  weeping?  —  Once  bend  eyes  on  me? 

Give  way  to  tears,  or  pity  show  for  her  485 

Who  loved  him  ?     What  first  shall  I  say,  what  last? 

Now,  yea,  even  now,  the  mighty  Juno  turns 

Away,  nor  does  Saturnian  Jove  regard 

These  things  with  equal  and  impartial  eyes. 

Faith  lives  no  more.      Cast  on  my  shores,  in  need,  49° 

I  took  him  in,  and,  fool,  gave  him  a  part 

Of  my  own  kingdom,  and  his  scattered  fleet 

Restored,  and  brought  his  comrades  back  from  death. 

Ah,  I  am  whirled  by  maddening  furies!     Now 

Prophet  Apollo,  now  the  Lycian  fates,  495 

And  now,  sent  from  above  by  Jove  himself, 

The  messenger  divine  bears  through  the  skies 

His  terrible  commands.     A  labor  this, 

Forsooth,  for  those  supernal  ones !     Such  care 

Ruffles  their  calm  repose!      I  keep  thee  not 

From  going,  nor  shall  I  refute  thy  words. 

Go  !   find  your  Italy,  and  with  the  winds 


i  ;2 


The   Aineid. 


Seek  for  thy  kingdoms.     Verily  I  do  hope, 

If  the  just  gods  have  any  power,  that  thou 

Wilt  drain  e'en  to  the  dregs  thy  punishment  505 

Amid  the  rocks  of  ocean,  calling  oft 

Upon  the  name  of  Dido  !     Though  far  off, 

With  gloomy  fires  I  shall  pursue  thy  steps. 

And  when  cold  death  shall  separate  my  limbs 

From  breath  of  life,  my  ghost  shall  follow  thee  510 

Where'er  thou  goest.     Wretch  !  thou  shalt  render  full 

Atonement,  and  the  fame  of  it  shall  come 

To  me,  amid  the  lowest  shades  of  death  !  " 

So  saying,  abruptly  she  breaks  off  her  speech, 

And  sick  at  heart,  flies  from  the  light,  and  shuns  515 

His  eyes,  and  leaves  him  hesitating  much 

In  fear,  with  many  things  he  wished  to  say. 

Her  maids  receive  and  bear  her  fainting  form 

Back  to  her  marble  chamber  and  her  bed. 

But  good  /Eneas,  though  he  much  desires  5" 

To  calm  and  to  console  her  in  her  grief 
With  soothing  words,  groans  bitterly,  his  heart 
Shaken  by  love  for  her ;  —  but  none  the  less 
Prepares  to  execute  the  god's  command, 


Book    II 


And  to  his  fleet  returns.     The  Trojans  now 

Bend  to  their  work,  and  all  along  the  .shore 

Draw  their  tall  vessels  down,  till  the  tarred  keels 

Are  floating.      Then  they  bring  their  leafy  oars, 

And  unwrought  timber  fresh  cut  from  the  wood$ 

Ea^er  for  flight.     You  might  have  seen  them  move,      530 

Hastening  from  every  quarter;   as  the  ants, 

When,  mindful  of  the  winter,  a  great  heap 

Of  corn  they  plunder,  piling  it  away. 

Across  the  fields  the  long  black  phalanx  moves, 

And  through  a  narrow  pathway  in  the  grass  535 

They  bear  their  spoils  :  some  of  them  pushing  hard, 

Thrust  on  the  ponderous  grain  ;   and  some  drive  on 

The  stragglers,  and  the  loiterers  chastise  : 

DO  * 

And  all  the  pathway  glows  with  fervent  toil. 

What  were  thy  thoughts,  O  Dido,  seeing  this?  543 

What  groans  were  thine,  when  from  a  tower's  high  top, 
Thou  sawest  the  shores  alive  with  bustling  crowds, 
And  the  whole  sea  confused  with  clamorous  cri 

ursed  power  of  love,  what  mortal  hearts 
Dost  thou  not  force  to  obey  thee!      Once  again  545 

In  tears  the  queen  must  go,  and  once  again 
Try  him  with  prayers,  and,  suppliant,  submit 
20 


i  ka  The  sEneid. 

Her  anger  to  her  love,  lest  dying  in  vain, 
She  should  leave  aught  untried. 

"Anna,"  she  said, 
"  Seest  thou  how  they  are  hastening  on  the  shore,  55° 

Crowding  from  all  sides  !     Now  their  canvas  wooes 
The  breeze  ;  the  joyful  sailors  hang  the  sterns 
With  garlands.     Since  I  could  foresee  this  grief, 

0  sister,  I  can  bear  it.     Yet  for  me 

This  one  thing  do  :  for  this  perfidious  man  555 

Was  in  thy  confidence,  his  inmost  thoughts 

Disclosed  to  thee ;  and  thou  alone  dost  know 

The  soft  approaches,  and  the  seasons  best 

For  touching  him.     Go,  sister,  speak  to  him, 

This  haughty  enemy,  with  suppliant  words.  s6° 

1  took  no  oath  at  Aulis  with  the  Greeks, 
To  ruin  the  Trojans ;  sent  no  fleet  to  Troy ; 
Nor  did  I  desecrate  Anchises'  tomb, 

Or  vex  his  ghost.     Why  does  he  turn  deaf  ears 

To  all  my  words  ?     Whither  now  does  he  go  ?  s6s 

To  his  unhappy  lover  let  him  grant 

Only  this  one  last  favor,  —  that  he  wait 

Till  flight  be  easy,  and  the  winds  propitious. 

Not  for  the  former  marriage  bond,  which  he 

Forswore,  do  I  entreat  him  now,  —  nor  yet  570 


Book   iv.  155 

That  he  forego  fair  Latium  and  his  realm. 

I  only  ask  a  little  empty  time 

Of  respite  and  of  space,  that  I  may  calm 

This  wild  delirium,  and  may  teach  my  heart, 

Conquered  and  crushed,  the  lesson  how  to  grieve.  5-5 

For  this  last  boon  I  beg,  which,  granted  me, 

I  will  pay  back,  requited  by  my  death." 

So  she  entreats.      Her  message  fraught  with  tears, 

Again  and  yet  again  her  sister  takes. 

No  weeping  moves  him,  nor  can  he  be  turned  s*° 

Aside  by  any  prayers.     The  fates  oppose ; 

And  by  the  gods  the  man's  compliant  ears 

Are  shut.     As  when  the  Alpine  winds  contend 

Against  an  oak,  strong  with  the  strength  of  years, 

They  strive  to  uproot  it,  now  this  side,  now  that,  585 

With  furious  blasts ;  with  roaring  noise  on  high, 

The  scattered  leaves  from  off  the  boughs  are  stripped ; 

But  to  the  rocks  it  clings,  and  to  the  skies 

Reaches  its  top,  as  with  its  roots  it  tends 

Toward  Tartarus  :   so  by  their  ceaseless  prayers 

The  hero  is  assailed  on  every  side. 

Pain  wrings  his  mighty  breast;   his  mind  remains 

In  moved,  and  all  in  vain  their  tears  are  shed. 


156  The  Aineid. 

Then,  terrified  by  her  fates,  the  unhappy  que 

Prays  for  death,  weary  of  the  o'erarching  skies.  595 

Then,  as  she  seeks  how  best  she  may  pursue 

That  purpose,  and  may  quit  this  light  of  life,  — 

When  on  the  incense-burning  altars  laid 

Her  offerings  she  would  give,  she  sees  a  sight 

Of  horror  :   for  the  sacred  liquors  change  6co 

To  black,  and  the  outpoured  wine  is  turned  to  blood 

Impure.     This  by  no  other  eye  was  seen, 

Nor  told  e'en  to  her  sister.     Then,  besides, 

There  was  a  marble  chapel  in  her  house, 

In  memory  of  her  former  spouse  :   by  her  605 

Cherished  with  reverence  great,  and  hung  around 

With  snow-white  fleeces  and  with  festal  wreaths. 

Here  were  distinctly  heard  the  voice,  the  words 

Of  her  dead  husband,  in  the  shadowy  night. 

And  from  the  roof  the  lonely  owl  prolonged  610 

The  sad  complainings  of  her  funeral  notes.  / 

Many  things  also  prophesied  of  old 

By  pious  seers,  with  dreadful  warnings  fright 

Her  soul.     The  cruel  /Eneas  himself  pursues 

Her  footsteps  in  the  ravings  of  her  dreams.  615 

And  ever  unattended  and  alone 

She  seems,  travelling  along  some  lengthening  road, 


Book    lr.  157 

Seeking  her  Tyrians  in  a  desert  land. 

As  the  crazed  Pentheus  sees  the  Eumenides, 

And  two  twin  solar  orbs  display  thcmsclve8,  610 

And  double  images  of  Thebes;   or  as  when 

Orestes,  son  of  Agamemnon,  runs 

Excited  on  the  stage,  and  maddened,  flies 

His  mother  armed  with  torches  and  with  snakes; 

And  at  the  door  the  avenging  Scourges  sit.  625 

So,  when  she  took  the  Furies  to  her  breast, 

O'ermastered  by  her  grief,  resolved  on  death, 

The  time  and  mode  within  her  mind  she  weighs; 

And  thus  her  sorrowing  sister  she  addressed, 

Veiling  her  purpose  with  her  countenance,  630 

Smoothing  her  brow  with  semblance  of  a  hope  :  — 

M  I  have  found  a  way,  my  sister,  (give  me  joy,) 

Which  will  restore  him  to  me,  or  dissolve 

My  love  for  him.      There  is  a  place  hard  by 

The  ocean's  boundary  and  the  setting  sun,  635 

The  farthest  spot  of  Ethiopia  't  is; 

Where  mighty  Atlas  on  his  shoulder  turns 

The  axis  of  the  sky  with  burning  stars 

Adorned.      A  priestess  of  Massylian  race 

Coming  from  thence  is  known  to  me,  who  kept 


158  The   sEneid. 

The  temple  of  the  Hesperides,  and  gave 

The  dragon's  meals,  and  guarded  on  the  tree 

The  sacred  branches,  sprinkling  them  with  dew 

Of  honey  moist,  and  soporiferous  juice 

Of  poppies.     She  with  incantations  weird  645 

Can  free  what  minds  she  wills,  and  cruel  cares 

On  others  send  ;  can  stop  the  rivers'  flow, 

And  backward  turn  the  stars,  and  call  pale  ghosts 

By  night ;  and  ye  shall  hear  the  earth  beneath 

Your  feet  mutter  and  moan,  and  see  the  trees  650 

Descend  the  mountain-sides.     I  call  the  gods 

To  witness,  and  thee  too,  my  sister  dear, 

And  thy  beloved  life,  not  willingly 

Do  I  employ  these  arts  of  sorcery. 

Do  thou  erect  beneath  the  open  sky,  655 

In  the  interior  court,  with  secret  care, 

A  lofty  pile,  and  on  it  place  the  arms 

The  traitor  in  my  chamber  hung,  and  all 

The  garments  he  hath  left,  and  the  bridal  bed 

That  was  my  doom.     The  priestess  gives  commands      66o 

That  all  memorials  of  this  treacherous  man 

Shall  be  destroyed."     This  said,  she  paused.      Her  face 

Was  deadly  pale.     Nor  yet  does  Anna  dream 

Her  sister  hid  the  obsequies  of  death 


Book    ir.  159 

Beneath  these  novel  rites ;  nor  understands  66$ 

The  frenzy  of    her  soul  ;    nor  apprehends 
A  deeper  woe  than  when  Svehaus  died. 
Therefore  her  bidding  she  prepares  to  do. 


But  in  the  inner  court,  beneath  the  sky, 

A  lofty  pile  being  built,  of  tarry  pine 

And  ilex  split,  the  queen  hangs  garlands  round, 

And  crowns  the  pyre  with  funeral  leaves,  and  lavs 

Thereon  the  robes  and  sword  ;   and  on  the  couch 

His  erhgy,  —  well  knowing  what  should  come. 

Around  the  altars  stand.      Then,  with  her  hair 

Unbound,  the  priestess  thrice  a  hundred  gods 

Invokes,  and  Erebus,  and  Chaos  old, 

And  triple  Hecate,  —  Dian's  threefold  face  ;  1 

Then  sprinkles  the  feigned  waters  of  the  fount 

Avernian  ;  and  they  search  for  full-grown  plants  6S0 

With  brazen  sickles  in  the  moonlight  cut, 

Swollen  with  the  milk  of  poison  black.      Also 

The  mother's-love  is  sought  and  snatched  away, 

Torn  from  the  forehead  of  a  new-born  colt. 

Then  she  herself,  before  the  altars  bent, 

Holding  with  reverent  hands  the  sacred  meal,  — 

One  foot  bare  of  its  sandal,  and  her  robe 


1 60  The   Aineid. 

Unbound,  —  ere  dying,  calls  upon  the  gods, 

And  the  stars  shining  conscious  of  her  fate. 

Then  —  if  there  be  a  deity  both  just  690 

And  provident,  who  cares  for  those  who  love 

Unequally  —  to  him  she  lifts  her  prayer. 

'T  was  night ;  when  every  weary  frame  was  sunk 

In  placid  sleep;   when  woods  and  seas  were  still; 

When  in  their  middle  courses  rolled  the  stars ;  695 

When  every  field  was  hushed,  and  all  the  flocks, 

And  all  the  gay-winged  birds,  whether  they  fly 

Abroad  o'er  liquid  lakes,  or  haunt  the  fields 

With  bushes  rough,  in  night  and  sleep  reposed. 

Cares  were  smoothed  down,  and  hearts  forgot  their  woes. 

But  not  the  unhappy  queen.     She  finds  no  rest;  701 

Nor  with  her  eyes  or  heart  receives  the  night. 

With  double  weight  her  cares  increase.     Love  wakes 

Again,  and  rages,  on  the  swelling  tide 

Of  anger  fluctuating;   and  her  thoughts  7°5 

Thus  roll  within  :   "  Behold,  what  shall  I  do! 

Try  once  again  my  former  suitors,  scorned 

Of  them  ?     Or,  suppliant,  seek  a  marriage  bond 

With  the  Numidian,  whom  so  oft  I  spurned? 

Or  shall  I  follow  the  Dardanian  fleet,  1^ 


Book   ir.  1 1 » i 

Subjected  to  the  Trojans'  strict  commands, — 

Because  it  pleases  them  to  have  been  relieved 

By  me,  and  gratitude  must  last  with  those 

Remembering  former  tavors  ?     And  yet  who, 

Though  I  might  so  desire,  on  their  proud  ships  71 5 

Would  take  me,  whom  they  hate?    Ah,  know'st  thou  not, 

Lost  one,  the  treachery  of  Laomedon's 

False  race?     What  then!     Shall  I  accompany, 

Alone,  this  crew,  triumphant  in  their  flight  ? 

Or  with  my  Tyrians  be  borne  along,  710 

Surrounded  by  my  subjects,  and  compel 

Those  whom  from  Tyre  I  scarce  could  tear  away, 

To  hoist  their  sails  and  try  the  sea  again  ? 

Die  rather,  as  thou  well  deserv'st,  —  and  end 

Thy  anguish  with  the  sword  !     Thou,  sister,  thou,  7*5 

Moved  by  my  tears,  thou  wast  the  first  to  bring 

These  woes  on  me,  and  throw  me  to  the  foe. 

Ah,  had  I  been  allowed  to  pass  a  life 

Blameless,  unfettered  by  the  marriage  tie, 

Like  the  wild  beasts,  avoiding  cares  like  these  ! 

Or  that  the  promise  had  been  kept  I  made 

To  the  ashes  of  Sychseus  !  "     Such  the  plaint 

That  burst  from  Dido's  heart. 

iEneas  now, 


1 62  The  JEneid. 

Resolved  on  his  departure,  in  his  ship, 

All  preparation  made,  lay  wrapped  in  sleep.  735 

When  in  his  dreams  the  god's  returning  form, 

With  the  same  features,  seemed  again  to  warn  him,  — 

In  every  aspect  like  to  Mercury, 

In  voice,  in  color,  and  the  golden  hair, 

And  in  the  youthful  beauty  of  his  limbs.  740 

"  O  goddess-born,  canst  thou  here  waste  thy  hours 

In  sleep,  at  such  a  crisis,  —  foolish  man! 

Nor  see  the  perils  that  environ  thee  ? 

Dost  thou  not  hear  the  favoring  Zephyrs  blow  ? 

She  in  her  breast  is  plotting  wiles  and  crime,  745 

Resolved  on  death,  and  on  the  varying  tide 

Of  passions  fluctuates ;  and  wilt  thou  not, 

While  there  is  time,  precipitate  thy  flight  ? 

Soon  shalt  thou  see  the  waves  disturbed  with  ships, 

And  the  fierce  torches  blaze,  and  all  the  shore  -53 

Grow  hot  with  flames,  if  morning  sees  thee  still 

A  loiterer  on  these  lands.     Away  !      Pause  not ! 

A  woman  is  a  fickle,  changeful  thing !  " 

He  said,  and  mingled  with  the  shades  of  night. 

Then,  frightened  by  the  sudden  gloom  that  fell, 
./Eneas  leaps  from  sleep,  and  stirs  his  crew  :  — 


B  ok    ir.  1 1 ! 


i 


"  Wake,  my  men,  and  quickly]     Take  your  oars! 
Unfurl  your  sails!     A  god  was  sent  to  me 
From  the  high  heaven  to  hasten  our  flight, 

.1  cut  our  twisted  ropes.     Behold,  again  760 

lie  urges  us!      We  follow  thee,  O  thou 
Divine  and  holy  one,  whoe'er  thou  art, 
And  thy  commands  rejoicing  will  obey. 
Be  with  us,  kindly  aid,  and  with  thee  bring 
Propitious  stars  !  "      So  saying,  from  its  sheath 
He  draws  his  flaming  sword,  and  cuts  the  lines. 
The  same  zeal  hres  them  all,  while  round  they  fly 
With  busy  hands  and  feet.      The  shores  are  left. 
Beneath  their  keels  the  sea  is  hid.     Their  oars 
Turn  the  white  foam,  as  o'er  the  waves  they  sweep. 

And  now  Aurora,  from  the  saffron  couch 

Of  Tithon  rising,  shed  her  early  rays 

Upon  the  earth.      At  the  first  dawn  of  day 

The  queen  looks  from  her  palace  towers,  and  sees 

The  fleet,  with  sails  all  spread,  move  on  its  way  ;  77s 

And  not  a  hark  upon  the  empty  shore, 

Or  in  the  port.      Thrice  and  four  times  she  heats 

Her  lovely  breast,  and  tears  her  golden  hair. 

"  O  Jupiter!"    she  cries,  "and  shall  lie  go, 


164 


The    Aineid. 


790 


This  stranger,  —  shall  he  mock  our  queenly  power?       7S0 

Will  not  some  one  bring  arms,  and  give  him  chase? 

And  others  tear  my  vessels  from  their  docks  ? 

Quick,  bring  your  torches,  hoist  your  sails,  ply  oars !  — 

What  am  I  saying?     Where  am  I  ?     What  mad 

Delirium  is  this  ?     Ah,  wretched  Dido,  now  785 

His-base  deeds  touch  thee!    Thus  they  should  have  done, 

When  thou  didst  yield  thy  sceptre  to  his  hands. 

Behold  the  right  hand  and  the  faith  of  him 

Who  takes  with  him,  they  say,  his  household  gods; 

Who  on  his  shoulders  bore  his  aged  sire ! 

And  could  I  not  have  torn  him  limb  from  limb, 

And  thrown  him  to  the  waves?     And  could  I  not 

Have  killed  his  comrades,  and  Ascanius 

Himself,  and  on  the  tables  of  his  sire 

Served  for  a  banquet  ?      Doubtful,  say,  the  chance 

Of  war  had  been  ;  —  grant  that  it  had  been  so! 

Whom  should  I  fear,  who  am  about  to  die  ? 

I  might  have  fired  their  camps,  or  filled  their  ships 

With  flames,  destroying  sire  and  son,  with  all 

Their  race;  —  then  sacrificed  myself  with  them. 

Thou  Sun,  who  shin'st  on  all  the  works  of  earth  ! 

And  thou,  O  Juno,  the  interpreter 

And  witness  of  these  woes!     Thou,  Hecate,  howled 


795 


80c 


Book    ir.  165 


At  night  through  cities  where  three  cross-ways  meet! 

And  you,  ye  avenging  Furies,  and  ye  gods  80s 

Of  dying  Elissa,  hear  me!     Toward  my  wrongs 

Turn  your  deserved  aid,  and  hear  our  prayers \J 

If  it  must  be  this  wretch  shall  reach  the  port 

And  lands  he  seeks,  and  thus  the  fates  of  Jove 

Demand  that  there  his  wanderings  shall  end,  810 

Then,  vexed  by  wars  of  an  audacious  people, 

Exiled,  and  torn  away  from  his  son's  embrace, 

Let  him  implore  for  aid,  and  see  his  friends 

Slain  shamefully  ;  —  nor,  when  he  shall  submit 

To  the  conditions  of  unworthy  peace,  815 

May  he  enjoy  his  kingdom  or  his  life, 

But  fall  before  his  time,  and  in  the  sands 

I  nburied  lie!      These  things  I  pray;  —  and  this 

My  dying  voice,  I  pour  out  with  my  blood! 

And  ye,  O  Tyrians,  follow  with  your  hate  820 

His  seed,  and  all  his  future  race!      Be  this 

\  our  offering  on  my  tomb!      No  love,  no  league 

Between  you !      O,  may  some  avenger  rise 

From  out  my  ashes,  who  with  fire  and  sword 

Shall  chase  these  Dardan  settlers,  now,  and  in 

The  coming  time,  wherever  strength  is  given  ; 

Shores  with  shores  fighting,  waves  with  waves,  and  arms 


1 66  The   Alneid. 

With  arms,  —  they  and  their  last  posterity!" 

So  saying,  on  all  sides  her  thoughts  were  turned, 
How  soonest  from  the  hated  light  to  break.  830 

To  Barce  then  she  spoke,  Sychasus'  nurse 
(Her  own  long  since  had  died  in  ancient-  Tyre)  :  — 
"  Dear  nurse,  my  sister  Anna  bring  to  me. 
Bid  her  make  haste  to  sprinkle  all  her  limbs 
With  running  water,  and  to  bring  with  her  835 

The  victims,  and  the  offerings  required. 
Thou  too  around  thy  brows  a  fillet  bind. 
My  purpose  is  to  make  a  sacrifice, 
Which  duly  I  've  prepared,  to  Stygian  Jove ; 
And  end  my  griefs  by  giving  to  the  flames  840 

This  Trojan's  image,  on  his  funeral  pile." 

The  aged  nurse  quickens  her  feeble  steps. 

But  Dido,  trembling,  wild  with  brooding  o'er 

Her  dread  design,  rolling  her  blood-shot  eyes, 

Her  quivering  cheeks  suffused  with  spots,  bursts  through 

The  inner  threshold  of  the  house,  and  mounts  s+6 

With  frantic  mien  the  lofty  funeral  pile, 

Unsheathes  the  Trojan's  sword,  —  a  gift  not  sought 

For  use  like  this;  —  then,  having  gazed  upon 

The  Ilian  garments  and  the  well-known  bed,  850 


Book    ir.  167 

She  paused  a  little,  full  ol    tears  ami  thoughts, — 

Threw  herseli  on  the  couch,  and  these  hist  words 
Escaped:  "Sweet  relies,  — dear  to  me  when  fate 
And  heaven  were  kind!      Receive  this  life-blood  now, 

And  tree  me  from  these  sorrows!      I  have  lived,  8S5 

And  have  achieved  the  course  that  fortune  gave. 

And  now  of  me  the  queenly  shade  shall  pass 

Beneath  the  earth.      A  city  of  high  renown 

I  have  founded,  and  have  seen  my  walls  ascend ; 

Avenged  my  husband,  —  for  my  brother's  crime  860 

Requital  seen  ;  —  happy,  too  happy  alas, 

Had  the  Dardanian  fleet  ne'er  touched  my  shores!" 

With  that  she  pressed  her  face  upon  the  couch  ; 

"  I  shall  die  unavenged  ;  —  yet,  let  me  die  ! 

Thus,  thus  't  is  joy  to  seek  the  shades  below.  S6S 

These  flames  the  cruel  Trojan  on  the  sea 

Shall  drink  in  with  his  eyes,  and  bear  away 

Along  with  him  the  omens  of  my  death  !  " 

W  hile  thus  she  spoke,  the  attendants  saw  her  fall 
Upon  the  steel,  and  the  sword  frothed  with  blood, 
That  spurted  on  her  hands.      Loud  clamor  rills 
The  lofty  halls.      The  rumor  of  the  deed 
Raves  through  the  shaken  city.      Every  house 


1 68  The   Aineid. 

Resounds  with  grief,  and  groans,  and  women's  shrieks ; 
And  all  the  air  is  filled  with  wailing  tones ;  875 

As  though  all  Carthage  or  the  ancient  Tyre 
Were  toppling  down  before  their  invading  foes, 
And  over  roofs  and  temples  of  the  gods 
The  flames  were  rolling. 

Breathless,  terrified, 
With  trembling  steps,  her  sister  hears,  and  through        880 
The  crowd  she  rushes ;  with  her  nails  she  rends 
Her  face,  and  with  her  hands  she  beats  her  breast, 
And  calls  upon  the  dying  queen  by  name  :  — 
"Was  this  thy  meaning,  sister?     Hast  thou  thus 
Deceived  me  ?     Was  it  this,  that  funeral  pile,  885 

And  this,  those  altar-fires  prepared  for  me  ? 
Deserted  now,  what  first  shall  I  deplore  ? 
Didst  spurn  a  sister  near  thee  in  thy  death  ? 
Hadst  thou  but  summoned  me  to  share  this  fate, 
One  grief,  one  hour  should  here  have  stabbed  us  both  !  s9o 
Yea,  with  these  hands  I  built  this  pile,  and  called 
Upon  our  country's  gods,  that  thou  mightst  lie 
Thereon,  —  and  I,  ah  cruel,  not  be  there ! 
Myself  and  thee,  O  sister,  thou  hast  slain, 
Thy  people,  and  the  Tyrian  fathers  all,  s95 

And  thy  proud  city.     Give  me  —  let  me  bathe 


1 


Book  iv.  [69 

I  Icr  wounds  with  water,  and  it    any  breath 
Yet  flickers,  I  will  catch  it  with  my  lips!" 

So  saving,  she  ascended  the  high  steps, 

And  clasped  her  dying  sister  in  her  arms,  900 

And  moaning,  fondled  her  upon  her  breast, 

And  sought  to  stanch  the  black  blood  with  her  robe. 

The  queen  her  heavy  eyelids  tried  to  raise, 

And  backward  fell.      The  wound  beneath  her  breast 

Gurgled  with  blood.     Three  times  she  raised  herself,    9°s 

Upon  her  elbow  leaning;   and  three  times 

She  sank  upon  the  couch,  —  her  wandering  eyes 

Turned  to  the  blue  sky,  seeking  for  the  light, — 

And  when  she  found  it,  groaned. 

Great  Juno,  then, 
Pitying  her  lingering  agony  and  death,  9'° 

Sent  Iris  from  Olympus  down,  to  free 
The  struggling  soul,  and  loose  its  mortal  tie. 
For  since  by  fate  she  perished  not,  nor  death 
Deserved,  but  was  made  wretched  ere  her  time, 
And  by  a  sudden  madness  fired,   not  yet  9«s 

Proserpina  had  shorn  the  golden  lock 
From  off  her  head,  nor  to  the  Stygian  gloom 
Condemned  her.      Therefore  Iri>,  dewy  soft, 
22 


170 


The  Alneid. 


Upon  her  saffron-colored  pinions  borne, 

And  flashing  with  a  thousand  varied  hues  9*° 

Caught  from  the  opposing  sun,  flew  down,  and  stood 

Above  her  head,  and  said  :   "This  lock  I  bear 

Away,  sacred  to  Dis ;  such  my  command,  — 

And  free  thee  from  that  body."     Saying  this, 

She  cuts  the  ringlet.     And  the  vital  heat  v-i 

Exhales,  and  in  the  winds  life  floats  away. 


BOOK    V. 

/I    "  NEAS  with  his  fleet  was  sailing  on 
**       ^    Meanwhile,  in  course  direct,  and  with  the  wind 
Cutting  the  darkened  waves;   and  looking  hack, 
He  saw  the  city  glaring  with  the  flames 
Of  the  unhappy  Dido.     What  had  lit  $ 

This  tire,  they  knew  not;   but  the  cruel  pangs 
From  outraged  love,  and  what  a  woman's  rage 
Could  do,  they  know  ;  and  through  the  Trojans'  thoughts 
-  sad  forebodings  of  the  truth. 

The  ships 
Sailed  on.     The  land  no  longer  now  was  seen  ;  ^ 

But  on  all  sides  the  ocean  and  the  skv  ; 
When  overhead  there  stood  a  dark  gray  cloud 
With  night  and  tempest  fraught.    The  waves  grew  rough 

id  the  gloom  ;   and  from  his  lofty  stern, 
Even  PalinuruSj  helmsman  of  the  ship, 

laimed  :   "  Why  have  such  clouds  begirt  the  ski< 
O  father  Neptune,  what  hast  thou  in  store:' 


172  The   Alneid. 

So  saying,  he  bids  them  make  all  fast,  and  bend 

Upon  their  sturdy  oars  ;  and  to  the  wind 

He  slants  the  sail.     "  Noble  iEneas,"  he  said,  20 

"Though  Jupiter  himself  should  pledge  his  word, 

I  could  not  hope  beneath  a  sky  like  this 

To  touch  the  Italian  shores.     The  winds  are  changed, 

And  from  the  black  west  blowing,  roar  athwart 

Our  course.     The  air  is  thickened  into  mist ;  *s 

Nor  can  we  strive  against  it,  nor  proceed. 

Since  Fortune  conquers,  let  us  follow  her ; 

And  where  she  calls,  thither  bend  we  our  way. 

Not  far  the  faithful  and  fraternal  shores, 

I  judge,  of  Eryx,  the  Sicanian  ports,  3° 

If  stars  observed  have  not  deceived  my  eyes." 

Then  good  /Eneas  :   "  Long  since  I  have  seen 

The  winds'  demand,  and  that  in  vain  thou  striv'st. 

Turn  then  thy  course.     What  shores  more  sweet  to  me, 

Or  whither  would  I  bring  my  weary  ships  35 

More  gladly,  than  to  the  land  where  I  shall  greet 

Trojan  Acestes,  and  the  earth  that  holds 

Within  its  lap  my  sire  Anchises'  bones  ?  " 

This  said,  they  seek  the  harbor,  and  their  sails 

The  favoring  west-winds  fill.     Swiftly  across  4° 

The  gulf  the  fleet  is  borne,  until  at  length 


Book   v.  r  73 


With  joy  they  touch  upon  the  well-known  sands. 
Hut  from  a  mountain-top  Acestes  sees 

With  wonder  from  alar  the  friendly  ships 

Approach,  and  comes  to  meet  them,  bristling  o'er  45 

With  javelins,  and  in  Lybian  bear-skin  dressed. 

A  Trojan  he,  upon  his  mother's  side; 

Hi-  sire  the  stream  Crimisus.     He  had  not 

Forgetful  been  of  ancient  parentage; 

And  now  he  greets  the  voyagers  returned,  s° 

And  with  his  rustic  riches  entertains  them 

Gladly,  and  with  his  friendly  aid  consoles 

Their  weary  frames. 

Then  when  the  brightening  dawn 
Had  chased  away  the  stars,  i^neas  called 
His  comrades  all  together  from  the  shores,  55 

And  from  a  rising  ground  addressed  them  thus:  — 

"  Brave  Dardans,  race  of  lineage  divine, 
A  year  with  its  revolving  months  has  passed 
Since  in  the  earth  my  noble  sire's  remains 
W  e  laid,  and  consecrated  to  his  name  6-> 

Our  mournful  altars.      Now  that  day  has  come 
Which  I  shall  ever  hold  to  be  a  day 
Of    -"rrow,  yet  o{  honored  memory. 
So  the  gods  willed  it.      Were  I  exiled  far 


1 74  The   Aineid. 

'Mid  the  Gaetulian  sands,  or  Grecian  sea,  6S 

Or  in  Mycenae,  still  would  I  perform 

My  annual  vows,  and  celebrate  this  day 

With  solemn  pomp,  and  heap  the  altars  high 

With  gifts.     Now,  of  our  own  accord,  we  are  here, 

Near  to  my  father's  ashes  and  his  bones  ;  7° 

Not,  I  believe,  without  divine  intent, 

And  presence  of  the  gods,  to  friendly  ports 

Conducted.      Come  then,  let  us  render  all 

A  joyous  celebration  to  his  name, 

Praying  for  prosperous  winds,  and  that  he  may  75 

Accept  such  offerings  annually  given, 

When  I  have  built  my  city,  in  temples  reared 

And  dedicated  to  his  name.     Two  beeves 

Trojan  Acestes  gives  to  every  ship. 

Invite  to  our  feasts  our  home-and-country's  gods,  *o 

And  those  our  host  Acestes  venerates. 

Moreover,  if  the  morning  sun  shall  bring, 

Nine  days  from  this,  a  fair  and  radiant  day, 

First,  for  the  Trojan  fleet  I  will  appoint 

A  naval  race;   and  see  who  best  prevails  85 

In  speed  of  foot,  and  who  in  manly  strength, 

Either  to  throw  the  spear,  or  wing  the  shaft, 

Or  with  the  raw-hide  gauntlet  try  the  fight. 


Book  /'.  175 


Let  all  be  present,  and  expect  the  prize 
Deserved.     Keep  a  religious  silence  nil, 

And  bind  your  brows  with  wreaths."     Tims  having 
He  with  his  mother's  myrtle  crowns  his  brows; 
Ami  so  did  Helymus,  old  Acestes  too, 
\  n  1  young  Ascanius,  and  the  other  youths. 
Then  from  the  assembly  toward  the  tomb  he  went, 
Surrounded  by  a  mighty  multitude 
Attending  him.      Here,  offered  in  due  form, 
He  pours  upon  the  ground  two  cups  of  wine, 
Two  of  new  milk,  and  two  of  sacred  blood, 
And  scatters  purple  tiowers,  while  thus  he  speaks  :  —     1 

"Hail,  sacred  parent,  —  hail,  ye  ashes  snatched 
From  Trov  in  vain,  —  paternal  soul  and  shade! 
'T  was  not  permitted  me  to  see  the  shores, 
The  fated  fields  of  Italy,  with  thee  ; 
Nor  seek  the  Ausonian  Tiber,  wheresoe'er  ■ 

It  be."     Then  from  the  bottom  of  the  shrine 
A  serpent  huge  with  seven  voluminous  coils 
Peacefully  glided  round  the  tomb,  and  slipped 
Between  the  altars  ;   azure  blue  its  back, 
And  spotty  splendor  lit  its  scales  with  gold  ; 
As  when  the  rainbow  with  a  thousand  tints 
Gleams  in  the  opposing  sun.      /Eneas  stood 


176  The   Alneid. 

Astonished  at  the  vision  ;  while  the  snake 
Wound  its  long  trail  between  the  bowls  and  cups, 
And  sipped  the  food,  and  harmlessly  retired  115 

Into  the  bottom  of  the  tomb.     He  then 

More  zealously  renews  the  rites  commenced. 

j 

Whether  this  be  the  Genius  of  the  place, 

Or  some  attendant  spirit  of  his  sire, 

./Eneas  knows  not.     Two  young  sheep,  two  swine,  i«> 

And  two  black  steers,  he  sacrifices  then, 

Pours  out  the  sacred  wine,  and  calls  upon 

The  soul  of  great  Anchises,  and  the  shade 

Released  from  Acheron.      His  companions  too, 

According  to  their  means,  their  offerings  bring  i*s 

With  willing  minds,  the  altars  load  with  gifts, 

And  slay  their  steers  ;   others  in  order  place 

Caldrons  of  brass,  and,  stretched  upon  the  turf, 

Lay  coals  beneath  the  spits,  and  roast  the  flesh. 

At  length  the  expected  time  had  come.     The  steeds       130 

Of  morning  brought  the  ninth  day  clear  and  bright. 

Acestes'  fame  and  great  renown  had  called 

The  neighboring  people.     Joyous  groups  filled  all 

The  shores,  coming  to  view  the  Trojan  men, 

And  some  expecting  to  contend.      And  first  >35 


Book    v.  i  ;  7 

The  gifts  were  placed  within  the  middle  ring: 

The  sacred  tripods,  and  the  crowns  of  green, 

And  palms,  the  victors'  prize,  and  arms,  and  rohes 

Of  purple,  gold  and  silver  talents  too. 

And  from  a  mound  a  trumpet  rings,  to  tell  143 

The  games  commenced. 

And  first,  four  well-matched  ships 
Chosen  from  all  the  fleet,  with  sturdy  oars, 
Enter  the  lists.     The  rapid  Sea-wolf  first 
Comes,  urged  by  Mnestheus,  with  his  rowers  strong; 
Mnestheus,  Italian  soon  in  his  renown  ;  145 

From  whom  the  line  of  Memmius  is  derived. 
The  Inline  Chimera  with  its  statelv  bulk 

O  J 

Next  comes,  a  floating  city,  Gyas'  charge, 

By  Dardan  youths  impelled,  with  triple  banks 

Of  oars  ascending.      Then  Sergestus,  he  '5° 

From  whom  the  Sergian  family  is  named, 

Borne  in  the  mighty  Centaur.      Last,  the  chief 

Cloanthus,  in  the  dark  blue  Scylla  comes; 

From  him,  O  Rome's  Cluentius,  thy  descent. 

Far  in  the  sea  there  is  a  rock  that  fronts 
The  foaming  coast,  at  times  by  swelling  waves 
Submerged  and  buffeted,  when  winter  winds 
23 


178  The   JEneid. 

Obscure  the  stars.     When  skies  are  calm,  it  lifts 

A  level  plain  above  the  tranquil  waves, 

A  pleasant  haunt  where  sea-birds  love  to  bask.  160 

And  here  y^neas  plants  an  ilex-tree, 

A  goal  and  signal  green,  to  tell  the  crews 

When  to  turn  back  upon  their  winding  course. 

Their  places  then  are  given  to  each  by  lot, 

And  the  commanders,  standing  in  the  sterns,  165 

Shine  in  proud  robes  of  crimson  and  of  gold. 

The  rest  with  leafy  poplar  wreathe  their  brows, 

Their  naked  shoulders  smeared  with  shining  oil. 

Upon  their  rowing-benches,  side  by  side, 

They  sit,  their  arms  extended  to  their  oars;  170 

Intent  they  wait  the  signal,  and  with  hearts 

Beating  with  mingled  fear  and  love  of  praise. 

Then,  when  the  trumpet  sounds,  they  bound  away 
Swift  from  their  barriers,  all ;   the  sailors'  shouts 
Resound  ;   the  frothy  waves  are  turned  beneath  175 

Their  sinewy  arms ;  and  keeping  time,  they  cleave 
The  furrows  of  the  yawning  ocean  deeps 
Surging  before  their  oars  and  trident-beaks. 
Less  swiftly  start  the  chariots  and  their  steeds 
In  the  contesting  race,  across  the  field  ;  180 

Less  eagerly  the  charioteers  shake  loose 


B  H>k     V.  [79 

The  waving  reins  upon  the  coursers'  necks, 
And  bending  forward,  hang  upon  the  lash. 
Then,  with  the  shouts  and  plaudits  oi  the  crowd, 

And  urging  cries  oi    friends,  the  woods  resound. 

The  shores,  shut  in,  roll  on  the  loud  acclaim, 

Re-echoed  from  the  hills.     First,  before  all, 

Amid  the  crowd  and  noise,  rlies  Gyas  past 

Upon  the  waves.     Cloanthus  follows  next, 

With  better  oars,  but  lags  from  heavier  weight.  1 

Behind,  at  equal  distance,  in  close  strife 

The  Sea-wolf  and  the  Centaur  come;   and  now 

The  Sea-wolf  gains,  and  now  the  Centaur  huge 

Passes  her;   now  together  both  join  fronts, 

Ploughing  long  briny  furrows  with  their  keels.  19s 

And  now  they  neared  the  rock,  and  almost  touched 

The  goal,  when  Gyas,  foremost  on  the  waves, 

Calls  to  Mencetes,  helmsman  of  his  ship  :  — 

"  Why  to  the  right  so  fir  ?     Here  lies  thy  course  ! 

Keep  close  to  shore,  and  let  the  oar-blades  graze 

The  rocks  upon  the  left.      Let  others  keep 

The  open  main."      But,  fearing  the  blind  rocks, 

Toward  the  sea  Mencetes  turns  his  prow. 

"Why  steer  so  wide?      Make  for  the  rocks  again, 


i8o  The  Aineid. 

Menaetes  !  "  Gyas  shouted  ;  and  behold,  205 

He  looks,  and  sees  Cloanthus  close  behind 

And  gaining  on  him.      He,  between  the  ship 

Of  Gyas  and  the  rocks,  glides  grazing  by 

Upon  the  left,  and  suddenly  outstrips 

Him  who  was  first,  and  passes  by  the  goal ;  210 

And,  turning,  holds  his  safe  course  o'er  the  deep. 

Then  grief  and  rage  burned  in  the  warrior's  breast, 

Nor  did  his  cheeks  lack  tears.     Forgetting  then 

His  pride,  reckless  of  safety  for  his  crew, 

He  hurled  the  slow  Menaetes  from  the  stern  215 

Into  the  sea,  and  takes  the  helm  himself, 

Pilot  and  master  both,  and  cheers  his  men, 

While  to  the  shore  he  turns.     But  heavily  built 

And  old,  with  difficulty  struggling  up, 

Menaetes,  dripping  wet,  climbs  up  the  rock,  2" 

And  on  its  dry  top  sits.     The  Trojans  laughed 

To  see  him  fall,  and  laughed  to  see  him  swim, 

And  laugh  again  to  see  him  spewing  forth 

The  salt  sea-brine.      Now  flames  a  joyful  hope 

In  Mnestheus  and  Sergestus,  the  two  last,  225 

To  pass  the  lagging  Gyas.      First  to  gain 

The  space  between,  Sergestus  nears  the  rock, 

Not  with  his  ship's  whole  length,  for  close  behind 


Book   v.  \ 


ID  I 


The  Sea-woli  presses  on  him  with  her  beak. 

But  pacing  through  his  galley,  M  nest  he  us  cheers  130 

His  comrades:    ''Now,  now  bend  upon  your  oars, 

Ye  friends  of  Hector,  whom  in  Troy's  last  hours 

I  chose  for  my  companions !      Now  put  forth 

Your  strength,  your  courage,  on  Gaetulian  shoals 

Once  tried,  and  on  the  Ionian  sea,  and  througli 

The  close-pursuing  waves  of  Malea. 

'T  is  not  that  Mnestheus  hopes  to  gain  the  prize;  — 

Though,  let  those  conquer,  Neptune,  whom  thou  will'st. 

But  shame  if  we  are  last  !      Be  this  your  thought, 

And  win  at  least  by  shunning  a  disgrace!"  ho 

o  o 

They  plv  their  oars  with  utmost  rivalry;  — 
The  brazen  galley  trembles  as  they  pull 
With  long-drawn  strokes.      Beneath  them  flies  the  sea  ; 
W  ith  panting  breasts,  parched  mouths,  and  sweating  limbs 
They  row.      And  now  mere  chance  gives  to  the  crew     hs 
The  honor  and  success  so  hotly  sought. 
For  while  Sergestus,  wild  with  furious  haste, 
I  rges  his  vessel  on  the  inner  track 
Toward  the  shore,  a  space  too  narrow  far, 
On  the  projecting  crags  he  hapless  struck. 
Loud  crash  the  struggling  oars,  and  on  a  rock 
rI  he  prow  hangs  fixed.      Up  rise  the  marine;   , 


1 82  The  Alneid. 

And,  shouting,  strive  to  force  the  vessel  back, 

And  ply  their  stakes  with  iron  shod,  and  poles 

With  sharpened  points,  and  from  the  flood  collect  =55 

Their  broken  oars.     But  Mnestheus,  full  of  joy, 

And  animated  more  by  this  success, 

With  rapid  march  of  oars,  and  winds  to  aid, 

Runs  on  the  smooth  waves  and  the  open  sea. 

As  when  a  dove,  whose  home  and  darling  nest  *6o 

Are  in  some  secret  rock,  from  out  her  cave 

Suddenly  startled,  toward  the  fields  she  flies 

Affrighted,  with  loud  flapping  of  her  wings ; 

Then,  gliding  through  the  quiet  air,  she  skims 

Along  her  liquid  path,  nor  moves  her  wings; —  265 

So  Mnestheus,  —  so  his  ship  the  outer  seas 

Cuts  in  her  flight,  by  her  own  impulse  borne. 

And  first  he  leaves  behind  upon  the  rock 

Sergestus,  struggling  in  the  shallow  flats, 

Calling  for  help  in  vain,  and  striving  hard  270 

To  row  with  shattered  oars.     Then  Gyas  next, 

In  the  Chiiruura  huge,  he  overtakes 

And  passes,  he  his  helmsman  having  lost. 

Cloanthus  now  alone  has  nearly  won, 

Whom  he  pursues,  straining  with  all  his  strength.  275 

The  clamor  then  redoubles ;   with  their  shouts 


Book  v.  183 

All  cheer  him  on.     And  thus  they  might  have  shared, 
Perchance,  with  equal  prows,  the  expected  prize; 
When  to  the  sea  CloanthllS  stretched  his  hands 
[n  prayer,  and  called  upon  the  deities  :  — 

"  Ye  gods,  whose  empire  is  the  watery  main, 

Whose  waves  I  stem,  to  you  I  joyfully 

Will  place  upon  your  altars,  on  the  shore, 

A  snow-white  bull,  bound  to  fulfil  my  vow, 

And  throw  the  entrails  in  the  sea,  and  pour  285 

An  offering  of  wine."      He  said  ;   and  all 

The  band  of  Nereids  and  of  Phorcus  heard, 

And  virgin  Panopea,  from  the  depths 

Of  ocean  ;   and  himself  Portunus  pushed 

With  his  great  hands  the  ship,  which  swifter  flew  290 

Than  wind,  or  flying  dart,  and  reached  the  land, 

And  hid  itself  within  the  ample  port. 

Then,  all  being  summoned,  as  the  custom  was, 

./Eneas  by  a  herald's  voice  proclaims 

Cloanthus  victor,  and  with  laurel  green  295 

He  wreathes  his  brows.      And  to  the  ships  he  gii 

Three  steers  for  each,  by  choice,  and  also  wine-, 

And  a  great  silver  talent.      On  the  chiefs 

Distinguished  honors  he  confers;  a  cloak 


1 84  The   Aineid. 

He  gives  the  victor,  wrought  with  work  of  gold  300 

And  Melibaean  purple  running  round 

In  double  windings.     Woven  through  the  cloth 

The  tale  of  Ganymede,  as  when  he  chased, 

Eager,  with  panting  breath,  the  flying  stag 

With  javelins,  on  the  leafy  Ida's  top; —  3°s 

Or  by  the  thunder-bearing  eagle  snatched, 

While  the  old  guardians  stretch  their  hands  in  vain 

To  heaven,  'mid  furious  barking  of  the  dogs. 

Then  next,  to  him  who  held  the  second  place 

In  honor,  a  coat  of  mail  with  polished  rings  310 

In  golden  tissue  triple-wrought,  he  gives, — 

Which  from  Demoleos  he  himself  had  won 

In  battle  by  the  Simois,  under  Troy. 

For  ornament  and  for  defence  alike 

He  gives  it.     The  two  servants  Sagaris  315 

And  Phegeus  scarcely  can  sustain  its  weight 

Upon  their  shoulders;  and  yet,  clothed  in  this, 

Demoleos  once  the  scattered  Trojans  chased. 

The  third  gifts  were  two  caldrons  made  of  brass, 

And  silver  bowls  embossed  with  chasings  rich.  320 

The  honors  now  conferred,  the  rivals  all, 

Proud  of  their  sumptuous  gifts,  were  moving  on, 


Bi    k    r.  [85 

With  scarlet  ribbons  bound  about  their  brows, 

When,  with  his  ship  saved  from  the  cruel  rock 

With  difficulty  and  great  skill,  his  oars  3^5 

I       1,  and  disabled  by  one  tier  entire, 

Sergestus  slowly  brought  his  vessel  in, 

Jeered  and  unhonored.      As  when  on  a  road 

A  serpent  by  a  wheel  is  crushed,  or  blow 

Dealt  by  some  traveller  with  a  heavy  stone,  330 

And  lett  half  dead  and  wounded,  all  in  vain 

Seeking  escape,  it  writhes,  its  foremost  part 

W  ith  flaming  eyes  defiant,  and  its  head 

Raised,  hissing;   but  the  other  portion,  maimed 

By  its  wound,  retards  it,  twisting  into  knots,  33s 

And  doubling  on  itself;  —  so  moved  the  ship 

W  ith  slow  and  crippled  oars,  yet  set  its  sails, 

And  so  steered  into  port.      But  none  the  less 

/Eneas  to  Sergestus  gives  a  gift 

As  promised,  glad  to  know  his  ship  is  saved,  340 

And  crew  brought  back.      To  him  a  female  slave 

Oi  Cretan  race,  called  Pholoe,  he  gives, 

Expert  to  weave,  with  twins  upon  her  breast. 

The  contest  ended,  to  a  grassy  field 

i£neas  then  repairs,  by  winding  hills  345 

24 


1 86  The   Aliieid. 

With  woods  enclosed  :   in  the  middle  of  a  vale 

Shaped  like  a  theatre,  a  race-course  ran  ; 

To  which  the  chief  with  many  thousands  went, 

And  sat  amid  them  on  a  lofty  seat. 

Here,  all  who  would  contend  in  speed  of  foot  350 

He  invites,  with  offered  prizes  and  rewards. 

From  all  sides  Trojans  and  Sicanians  mixed 

Assemble  ;  Nisus  and  Euryalus 

First  among  these,  —  Euryalus,  for  youth 

And  beauty  eminent ;   Nisus,  for  love  of  him.  35s 

Royal  Diores  next,  of  Priam's  race ; 

And  Salius,  and  Patron,  one  of  whom 

Was  Acarnanian,  and  the  other  born 

In  Arcady,  and  of  Tegaean  blood. 

Then  Helymus  and  Panopes,  two  youths  360 

Trinacrian  by  birth,  to  sylvan  sports 

Well  trained,  attendants  of  Acestes  old  ; 

With  many  more  hid  by  obscurer  fame. 

To  whom  iEneas,  in  the  midst,  thus  spoke  : 

"  Hear  now  my  words,  and  yield  me  willing  minds;      365 

None  hence  shall  go  without  a  gift  from  me. 

Two  Cretan  darts  of  polished  steel  I  give, 

Also  a  battle-axe  in  silver  chased. 

For  all  alike  these  presents.     The  first  three 


Book    r.  187 

Who  win,  due  prizes  shall  receive,  and  wreaths 
Of  olive  deck  their  brows.     A  steed  adorned 
With  trappings  shall  be  given  to  the  first ; 

An  Amazonian  quiver  to  the  next, 

With  Thracian  arrows  rilled,  and  broad  gold  belt 

Fastened  with  jewelled  clasp;   and  to  the  third  3-5 

This  Grecian  helmet." 

Having  said  these  words, 
They  take  their  places,  and,  the  signal  given, 
Dash  from  the  starting-point  upon  their  course, 
As  when  a  storm-cloud  pours.     Their  eyes  are  fixed 
Upon  the  goal.      First,  before  all  the  rest,  j*o 

Flies  Nisus,  darting  swifter  than  the  wind, 
Or  winged  thunderbolt.     Then  Salius  next 
Follows,  but  far  behind  ;   Euryalus 
The  third  in  speed.      Him  follows  Helymus. 
Now  close  behind,  behold,  Diores  flies,  3*5 

Toe  touching  heel,  and  hangs  upon  his  rear  ; 
And  had  more  space  remained,  he  would  have  passed, 
Or  left  the  contest  doubtful.      Almost  now 
The  last  stage  was  completed,  and  they  neared 
With  weary  feet  the  goal,  when  Xisus  slides 
Unhappily  amid  some  slippery  blood 
01    heifers  slain,  that,  poured  upon  the  ground, 


i  S  8  The   jEneid. 

Had  wet  the  grass.      Pressing  exultant  on, 

The  youth  his  foothold  lost,  and  prone  he  falls 

Amid  the  sacred  blood  and  filth  impure.  395 

Yet  not  forgetful  of  Euryalus, 

And  of  their  loves,  he  in  the  slippery  place 

Rising,  obstructs  the  way  of  Salius, 

Who,  falling  o'er  him,  sprawls  upon  the  ground. 

On  flies  Euryalus,  and,  through  his  friend,  400 

Holds  the  first  place,  as  'mid  the  applauding  shouts 

He  runs.     Then  Helymus  comes  in,  and  next 

Diores,  for  the  third.     Here  Salius  fills 

All  the  wide  hollow  of  the  assembled  crowd, 

And  front  seats  of  the  fathers,  with  his  cries,  4°s 

Demanding  that  the  prize  should  be  restored, 

Snatched  from  him  by  a  trick.     But  favor  smiles 

For  Euryalus,  and  his  becoming  tears ; 

And  worth  seems  worthier  in  a  lovely  form.) 

Diores  seconds  him,  and  with  loud  voice  413 

Declares  that  he  in  vain  had  striven  to  win 

The  last  prize,  if  to  Salius  falls  the  first. 

Then  spoke  iEneas  :   "  Youths,  your  prizes  all 

Remain  to  you  assured.     No  one  may  change 

The  order  of  the  palm.      But  let  me  still  415 

Pity  a  friend  whose  ill-luck  merits  not 


Book   /.  1S9 

Misfortune.'1     Saying  this,  to  Salius  then 

lie  gives  a  huge  Gaetulian  lion's  skin 

Heavy  with  rough  hair,  and  with  gilded  claws. 

Here  NlSUS  spoke:    "If  such  the  prizes  given  420 

TO  those  who  lose,  ami  Bills  win  pity  thus, 

What  boon  worthy  of  Nisus  wilt  thou  give? 

I  who  deserved  the  first  crown,  had  not  chance 

To  me,  as  well  as  Salius,  proved  unkind." 

And  as  he  spoke,  he  showed  his  face  and  limbs 

Smeared  with  the  mud  and  filth.     The  good  sire  smiled, 

And  bade  a  shield  be  brought,  the  skilful  work 

Of   Didvmaon,  taken  by  the  Greeks 

From  Neptune's  sacred  door;   this  signal  gift 

./Eneas  to  the  worthy  youth  presents.  430 

The  race  being  ended,  and  the  prizes  given  :  — 

u  Now  whosoe'er  has  courage  and  a  mind 

(       1  and  collected,  let  him  show  himself, 

And  raise  his  arms,  his  hands  with  gauntlets  bound." 

So  spoke  the  chief;   and  for  the  combat  then  us 

Proposed  a  double  prize;   a  bullock  decked 

^  ith  gold  and  ribbons,  for  the  one  who  wins; 

And,  to  console  the  vanquished  one,  a  sword 

And  splendid  helmet.      Then  without  delay, 


190  The   Aiiieid. 

Dares  displays  his  mighty  limbs  and  strength,  440 

And  lifts  his  head  amid  the  murmuring  crowd;  — 

He  who  alone  with  Paris  could  contend ; 

The  same  who  at  the  tomb  where  Hector  lies 

Struck  down  the  champion  Butes,  vast  of  bulk 

(Boasting  to  have  come  of  the  Bebrycian  race  445 

Of  Amycus),  and  stretched  him  on  the  sand, 

Dying.     So  Dares  rears  his  head  aloft, 

First  in  the  lists,  and  shows  his  shoulders  broad, 

Throwing  his  arms  out,  with  alternate  blows 

Beating  the  air.     A  rival  then  is  sought ;  +5^ 

But  no  one  ventures  from  the  crowd  to  approach 

The  champion,  and  to  bind  the  cestus  on. 

He  therefore,  overbold,  supposing  all 

Declined  the  prize,  before  -/Eneas'  feet 

His  station  takes ;  and  without  more  delay  45s 

On  the  bull's  horn  his  left  hand  lays,  and  speaks :  — 

"  Hero  of  birth  divine,  if  none  dare  trust 

Himself  in  combat,  why  then  stand  I  here  ? 

And  how  long  must  I  wait?     Command  that  I 

Shall  lead  away  the  prize."     The  Trojans  all  4^ 

Shout  their  assent,  and  wish  the  promised  gift 

Bestowed. 

Then  grave  Acestes  thus  rebukes 


Book    r.  [91 

En  tell  us,  lying  by  him  on  the  grass :  — 
M  Entellus,  once  the  bravest  of  the  brave. 

But  to  what  end,  if  patiently  thou  scest  465 

Such  prizes  without  contest  borne  away? 

Where  now  is  he,  Eryx,  that  god  of  ours 

Whom  thou  didst  call  thy  master,  yet  in  vain  ? 

Where  is  thy  fame  through  all  Trinacria  ? 

And  where  those  spoils  that  deck  thy  house's  walls?"    470 

Then  he  :    "  Not  love  of  praise  or  fame  departs 

From  me,  driven  out  by  fear,  but  the  cold  blood 

Of  age  moves  slowly,  and  the  limbs  lack,  strength. 

Had  I  but  that  which  once  I  had,  —  the  youth 

Yon  braggart  boasts  with  such  exulting  taunt, —  4-; 

Xot  for  rewards,  not  for  a  comely  steer 

Would  I  come  hither,  nor  expect  a  gift." 

So  saying,  a  pair  of  gauntlets  in  the  midst 

He  threw,  of  weight  enormous,  with  which  once 

The  impetuous  Eryx  clothed  his  hands  in  combat, 

And  with  the  tough  thongs  bound  his  wrists  about. 

All  were  amazed  ;  for  seven  great  hides  of  bulls 

Stiffened  their  bulk,  with  iron  and  with  lead 

Sewed  in.      Dares  himself  astonished  stands, 

And  drawing  back,  declines  to  try  the  light. 

/Eneas  tests  the  gauntlets'  weight  and  size, 


192  The  Aineid. 

And  to  and  fro  he  turns  their  ponderous  folds. 

Then  said  the  veteran  :   "What  if  ye  had  seen 

The  cestus  and  the  arms  of  Hercules 

Himself,  and  watched  the  battle  as  it  raged  49° 

Upon  this  very  shore  ?     These  gloves  were  once 

Worn  by  thy  brother  Eryx  (even  now 

The  soil  of  brains  and  blood  thou  mayst  perceive). 

With  these  he  against  the  great  Alcides  stood  ; 

With  these  I  once  was  wont  to  fight,  when  youth  495 

And  strength  were  mine,  nor  envious  age 

Had  bleached  my  brows.     But  if  these  arms  of  ours 

The  Trojan  Dares  here  declines  to  test ; 

And  if  iEneas  gives  consent,  and  he 

Who  prompts  the  fight,  Acestes,  let  us  make  s°° 

The  battle  even.     I  withdraw  the  hides 

Of  Eryx,  fear  not ;  and  thy  Trojan  gloves 

Do  thou  put  off."     So  saying,  he  threw  aside 

His  robe,  and  showed  his  mighty  limbs,  and  stood 

In  the  arena's  midst  with  towering  form.  5°s 

yEneas  then  two  equal  pairs  provides 

Of  gauntlets,  and  so  both  alike  are  armed. 

Each  stands  on  tiptoe ;  fearless  they  extend 

Their  arms,  with  heads  thrown  back,  to  avoid  the  blows; 


Book  v. 


i93 


Hands  crossing  hands,  provoking  to  the  tight:  s'« 

The  one,  of  more  elastic  toot,  and  lull 
Of  confidence  in  vouth  ;   the  other  strong 
In  weight  and  heavy  limbs,  hut  tottering 
And  feeble  in  his  knees,  with  panting  hreath 
That  shakes  his  mighty  joints.     And  many  a  blow  5>5 

Is  aimed  in  vain,  upon  their  hollow  sides 
And  chests  resounding;   round  their  ears  and  brows 
The  strokes  rly  thick  and  fast ;  beneath  the  shocks 
Their  jawbones  seem  to  crack.      But  firmly  stands 
Entellus,  from  his  posture  still  unmoved;  5" 

And  with  his  body  and  his  watchful  eyes 
Alone  avoids  the  blows.      Dares,  as  one 
Who  with  his  engines  'gainst  a  lofty  town 
Leads  the  attack,  or  lays  his  siege  around 
A  mountain  citadel,  now  here,  now  there  5*5 

Seeks  entrance,  trying  with  his  art  each  place, 
Urging  his  various  assaults  in  vain. 
Entellus,  rising,  his  right  hand  thrusts  out ; 
The  other  swift  foresees  the  coming  blow, 
Adroitly  steps  aside,  and  all  the  strength  ss° 

Of  the  huge  veteran  spends  itself  in  air; 
And  heavily  down  with  his  vast  weight  he  falls: 
As  when,  uprooted,  falls  a  hollow  pine 
25 


1 94  The   Aineid. 

On  Erymanthus,  or  Mount  Ida's  side. 

Then  rise  the  Trojan  and  Trinacrian  youths  535 

With  eager  impulse,  and  a  mighty  shout. 

And  first  Acestes  runs  and  raises  up 

His  friend  of  equal  years,  with  pitying  aid. 

But  the  old  hero,  by  his  sudden  fall 

Neither  intimidated  nor  delayed,  540 

Fiercer  returns,  while  anger  lends  him  strength, 

And  shame  and  conscious  valor  stimulate 

His  spirit.     And  impetuous  now  he  drives 

Dares  across  the  lists,  redoubling  blow 

On  blow,  now  with  his  right  hand,  now  his  left ;  545 

No  respite  or  delay.     As  when  the  clouds 

Pour  rattling  hailstones  thick  upon  the  roofs, 

So  with  his  frequent  blows  the  hero  beats 

And  drives  his  adversary  with  both  hands. 

But  here  iEneas  suffered  not  their  wrath  5s3 

Further  to  go,  or  rage  with  fiercer  heat, 

But  to  the  combat  put  an  end,  and  saved 

The  exhausted  Dares,  speaking  soothing  words:  — 

"Unhappy  man,"  he  said,  "what  folly  so 

Possessed  thy  mind?     Dost  thou  not  here  perceive  555 

An  alien  strength,  the  gods  against  thee  turned  ? 

Yield  now  to  heaven."     So  saying,  he  stayed  the  fight. 


Book     V.  i  ■  ,  ; 

Dragging  his  feeble  knees,  with  head  that  drooped 

This  way  and  that,  blood  issuing  from  bis  mouth, 

Mingled  with  loosened  teeth,  Dares  is  led 

Aw  av  by  his  trusty  comrades  to  the  ships. 

Then  summoned,  they  receive  the  promised  sword 

And  helmet ;   while  the  palm  and  bull  are  left 

To  Entellus.     Proud  and  elated  with  his  prize, 

"  Xow  know,  O  goddess-born,"  he  said,  "  and  you,        565 

Ye  Trojans,  what  my  youthful  strength  once  was, 

And  from  what  death  your  Dares  has  been  saved." 

He  said  ;  and  standing  opposite  the  bull, 

The  victor's  prize,  drew  back  his  arm,  and  aimed 

Between  the  horns  the  gauntlet's  blow,  and  dashed         570 

The  bones  sheer  through  the  shattered  skull.     Down  fell 

With  quivering  limbs  upon  the  ground  the  bull. 

"  Eryx,"  he  said,  "  this  better  sacrifice 

I  make  to  thee,  instead  of  Dares'  death. 

Victorious,  I  the  gauntlet  here  renounce."  575 

Then  all  who  would  contend  in  archery 
./Eneas  next  invites,  with  prizes  fixed. 
And  with  his  strong  hand  he  erects  a  mast 
Brought  from  Serestus'  ship.      Upon  its  top 
A  dove  is  fastened  as  a  mark.     The  men 


1 96  The  sEneid. 

Assemble,  and  a  brazen  helmet  holds 

The  lots  thrown  in.     And  first  Hippocoon's  name 

Comes  forth,  the  son  of  Hyrtacus ;    and  next 

Mnestheus,  crowned  victor  in  the  naval  race. 

Third  came  Eurytion's  name,  brother  of  thee,  s8s 

O  famous  Pandarus,  who,  commanded,  hurled 

Among  the  Greeks  the  spear  that  broke  the  truce. 

Last  in  the  helmet  came  Acestes'  name  ; 

He  too  would  try  the  task  of  younger  hands. 

Then,  taking  arrows  from  their  quivers,  each  59° 

Bends  his  lithe  bow  with  all  his  strength  and  skill. 
And  first  Hippocoon's  shaft  with  twanging  string 
Cleaves  the  light  air,  and  strikes  the  mast,  and  sticks. 
The  tall  pole  trembles,  and  the  frightened  bird 
Flutters  her  wings.     Around  the  plaudits  ring.  59s 

Then  boldly  Mnestheus,  with  his  bow  full  drawn, 
Stands,  aiming  high,  with  eye  and  weapon  fixed 
He,  hapless,  fails  to  strike  the  bird,  yet  cuts 
The  knotted  cord  by  which  she  hung.     Aloft 
Toward  the  clouds,  and  through  the  air  she  speeds.        600 
Then,  swift,  with  shaft  already  on  the  string, 
Eurytion  with  his  vows  invoked  his  brother. 
Fixing  his  eye  upon  the  joyful  dove, 


Book    /'.  \     ; 

As  through  the  empty  air  she  flapped  her  \vi: 

He  pierced  her  underneath  the  shadowing  cloud. 

Down  dead  she  dropped,  and  left  amid  the  star. 

Pier  life,  and  tallen,  brings  the  arrow  back, 

Fixed  in  her  side.      The  prize  thus  lost  to  him, 

Acestes  was  the  onlv  archer  left. 

Nathless,  his  arrow  shooting  in  the  air,  '..o 

The  sire  displays  his  skill  and  sounding  how. 

But  here  a  sudden  prodigy  is  shown, 

An  omen  of  the  future,  by  events 

Thereafter  manifest;   too  late  the  sign 

By  awe-inspiring  prophets  was  revealed.  615 

For,  riving  through  the  humid  clouds,  the  shaft 

Signalled  its  flight  by  flames,  and  disappeared, 

Consumed  amid  thin  air;  as  when  from  heaven 

Unrixed,  glide  shooting  stars  with  trailing  light. 

Trinacrians  and  Trojans  stood  amazed,  6;o 

Calling  upon  the  gods.     /Eneas  sees 

The  omen,  and  the  glad  Acestes  greets 

W  ith  an  embrace,  and  loads  him  with  large  gifts. 

"  Take,  sire,"  he  said;   "the  mighty  Olympian  king, 

From  auspices  like  these,  for  thee  intends  i 

Distingui>hed  honors.     This  gift  thou  shalt  have, 

A  bowl  Anchises  once  himself  possessed, 


198  The   Aineid. 

Embossed  with  figures,  which  my  father  once 

Received  from  Thracian  Cisseus,  to  be  kept, 

A  pledge  and  a  memorial  of  his  love."  630 

This  said,  he  wreathes  his  brows  with  laurel  green, 

And  names  Acestes  victor  over  all. 

Nor  does  the  good  Eurytion  grudge  the  praise 

That  stood  before  his  own,  though  he  alone 

Had  brought  the  bird  down  from  the  upper  air.  635 

His  gift  came  next,  whose  arrow  cut  the  cords; 

His  last,  whose  winged  shaft  had  pierced  the  mast. 

But  ere  the  contest  closed,  ./Eneas  calls 

To  him  Epytides,  —  the  guardian  he 

Of  young  lulus,  and  companion, —  64o 

And  thus  his  trusty  ear  addressed  :   "  Go  now, 

And  tell  Ascanius,  if  his  band  of  boys 

Be  ready,  and  the  movements  of  their  steeds 

Arranged  in  order,  to  bring  up  his  troop 

Of  cavalry,  to  show  themselves  in  arms,  Hs 

In  honor  of  his  grandsire,  and  his  day." 

He  then  commands  the  crowd  to  leave  the  course, 

And  clear  the  open  field.     The  boys  advance  ; 

With  glittering  arms  and  well-reined  steeds  they  shine 

In  equal  ranks  before  their  parents'  eyes;  650 


Book   v. 

And  as  they  move,  the  admiring  hosts  of  Troy 
And  of  Trinacria  shout  In  loud  applause. 

All  have  their  hair  confined  by  crowns  of  leaves; 

Bach  bears  two  cornel  spears  with  heads  of  steel. 

Some  on  their  shoulders  carry  quivers  light  ;  655 

And  round  their  necks,  and  tailing  on  their  breasts, 

Circles  of  soft  and  twisted  gold  are  worn. 

Three  bands  of  riders,  with  three  leaders,  go 

Coursing  upon  the  plain,  twelve  boys  in  each  ; 

And  each  division  has  a  guide:   one  band  660 

Led  by  a  little  Priam,  named  from  him, 

His  famous  grandsire,  and  Polites'  son, 

Destined  one  day  to  increase  the  Italian  race. 

On  a  white-dappled  Thracian  steed  he  rode, 

His  forefeet  white,  and  white  his  forehead  held  665 

Aloft  in  pride.     Atys  came  next,  from  whom 

The  house  of  Latin  Atii  is  derived ; 

The  little  Atys,  by  lulus  loved. 

And  last,  more  beautiful  than  all  the  rest, 

lulus,  borne  on  a  Sidonian  horse,  6-0 

Fair  Dido's  gift,  memorial  of  her  love. 

The  rest  rode  on  the  king's  Trinacrian  steeds. 

The  Trojans  greet  them  thrilling  with  the  appla 


200  The  sEneid. 

And  gaze  with  pleasure,  noting  on  each  face 

Their  parents'  features.     When  the  joyous  train  675 

Had  passed  upon  their  steeds  before  the  throng, 

And  their  proud  fathers'  eyes,  Epytides 

Gave  from  afar  a  signal  by  a  shout, 

And  cracked  his  whip.     They  equally  divide 

By  threes,  in  separate  bands.     Then  at  command  6$3 

They  wheel,  and  charge  each  other  with  fixed  spears, 

With  many  a  forward  movement  and  retreat 

Opposing,  circles  within  circles  mixed, 

Through  all  the  mimic  battle's  changes  borne. 

And  now  they  turn  and  fly,  now  aim  their  darts  6S5 

Each  at  the  other ;  and  now,  peace  restored, 

They  ride  abreast ;  as  once  the  labyrinth 

In  lofty  Crete  is  said  to  have  had  a  path 

With  blind  walls  through  a  thousand  ways  inwoven 

Of  doubt  and  artifice,  which  whosoe'er  690 

By  guiding  marks  endeavored  to  explore, 

Error  unconscious,  irretraceable 

Deceived  his  steps.     Even  so  the  Trojan  youths 

Their  courses  interweave,  of  sportive  flight 

And  battle  ;  as  when  dolphins  swimming  cleave  695 

The  Lybian  and  Carpathian  seas,  and  sport 

Amid  the  waves.     These  movements  and  these  jousts 


Book    r.  20 1 

Ascanius  afterwards  revived,  when  he 

The  walls  of  Alba-Longa  built,  and  taught 

The  ancient  Latin  race  to  celebrate  -  -> 

The  sports  which  he  and  Trojan  youths  with  him 

Had  learned  ;   the  Albans  taught  them  to  their  sons  ; 

And  mighty  Rome  adopted  and  preserved 

Her  fathers'  honored  custom,  now  called  *  Troy  ' ; 

The  youths  performing  it,  *  the  Trojan  band.'  7^5 

Thus  far,  in  memory  of  a  sacred  sire, 

His  day  was  kept,  with  contests  and  with  games. 

Here,  changing  Fortune  showed  an  altered  face. 
For  while  about  the  tomb  a  holiday 

They  kept,  with  various  games  and  solemn  rites,  7«o 

Saturnian  Juno  from  the  skies  sent  down 
Iris  her  messenger  to  the  Trojan  fleet, 
And  breathed  the  winds  upon  her  as  she  went. 
Revolving  many  a  scheme,  the  goddess  kept 
Her  ancient  enmity  still  unappeased.  r>9 

The  virgin  down  her  bow  of  thousand  tints 
Glides  softly  on  her  way,  unseen  by  all. 
She  notes  the  mighty  concourse,  and  surveys 
The  shores,  and  sees  the  harbor  and  the  ships 
26 


202  The  Alneid. 

Deserted.     On  a  lonely  shore,  afar,  v~° 

The  Trojan  women  mourned  Anchises  dead, 

And  weeping  sat  and  gazed  upon  the  deep. 

"  Alas,  how  many  shoals,  how  many  seas," 

They  cried,  "our  weary  hearts  must  still  endure!  " 

Such  the  complaint  they  uttered,  one  and  all.  725 

They  pray  for  a  city  and  a  resting-place, 

And  hate  the  thought  of  further  sufferings 

Upon  the  sea.     Then  in  the  midst  of  them, 

Iris,  her  face  and  robes  divine  laid  by, 

Not  inexpert  in  mischief,  throws  herself  730 

In  Beroe's  form,  Doryclus'  aged  wife, 

Who  rank  and  name  and  family  once  had ; 

And  thus  the  Trojan  matrons  she  addressed :  — 

"  Unhappy  women,  by  no  Grecian  hands 

Dragged  to  your  death  beneath  your  city's  walls !  73s 

O  ill-starred  race !     To  what  disastrous  end 

Doth  Fortune  now  reserve  you,  one  and  all  ? 

The  seventh  summer  now  is  passing  by, 

Since  Troy  was  doomed,  and  still  upon  the  seas 

We  are  borne  away,  and  traverse  every  land,  740 

Over  so  many  inhospitable  rocks, 

Beneath  so  many  stars,  still  rolling  on 

The  billows,  following  an  Italy 


Book    v.  203 

That  Hies  before.      Plere  the  fraternal  shores 

Of  Eryx  stand  ;    Acestes  is  our  host. 

Who  hinders  us  from  building  here  our  walls, 

A  city  and  a  home  ?      O  fatherland, 

And  household  gods  snatched  from  the  foe  in  vain! 

Shall  never  walls  again  be  named  from  Troy  ? 

And  shall  I  never  the  Hectorian  streams, 

Xanthus  and  Simois,  again  behold? 

Come  then,  and  burn  with  me  these  luckless  ships. 

For  as  I  slept,  methought  Cassandra's  ghost 

Brought  to  me  burning  torches,  crying  aloud, 

*  Here  seek  your  Troy  !   Here  find  your  house  and  home  ! ' 

The  time  now  prompts  the  deed.     No  more  delay,        7>6 

With  omens  such  as  these.      Four  altars,  see, 

To  Neptune.      He  himself,  the  god,  supplies 

The  torches,  and  the  courage  for  the  attempt." 

Saying  this,  she  snatched  a  brand,  and  drawing  back       760 

Her  arm,  hurled  it  afar,  with  all  her  strength. 

Excited  and  bewildered  stood  the  dames 

Of  Troy.     Then  from  the  throng,  eldest  in  years, 

Pyrgo,  the  nurse  of  Priam's  many  sons, 

Exclaimed  :   "  Matrons,  no  Beroe  is  this,  765 

No  matron  of  Rhoeteum,  nor  the  wife 


204  The  Aineid. 

Of  our  Doryclus.     Do  ye  not  discern 

The  glorious  signs  of  deity,  how  flame 

Her  sparkling  eyes?  what  majesty  is  hers? 

And  what  a  countenance,  and  voice,  and  gait  ?  770 

Beroe  I  myself  but  now  have  left, 

Sick,  and  in  grief  that  she  alone  must  miss 

The  sacred  rites,  and  honors  that  we  pay 

To  Anchises." 

But  the  matrons,  doubtful  first, 
Began  to  scan  the  ships  with  eyes  of  hate,  775 

Uncertain,  'twixt  their  yearning  for  this  land 
And  that  which  called  them  with  the  voice  of  fate. 
When  upon  balanced  wings  the  goddess  rose, 
And  flying  tracked  her  pathway  with  an  arc 
Immense,  —  a  gleaming  rainbow  on  the  clouds.  :So 

Then  they,  astonished  at  this  strange  portent, 
And  maddened,  shout  ;  and  from  the  inmost  hearths 
They  snatch  the  burning  coals ;   and  some  despoil 
The  altars,  and  throw  branches,  leaves,  and  brands. 
Unchecked  the  fire  now  rages  all  across  78s 

The  benches,  oars,  and  sterns  of  painted  fir. 

Eumelus  to  the  tomb  and  theatre 

Brings  news  of  the  blazing  ships.     They  all  look  back 


Book  /'.  205 

And  see  the  sparks  and  see  the  rolling  smoke. 
And  first  Ascanius,  leading  joyously  790 

The  equestrian  hand,  e'en  as  he  was,  breaks  off, 
And  to  the  excited  camp  in  hot  haste  rides ; 
Nor  can  his  breathless  guardians  stay  His  flight. 
"  What  fury  strange  is  this!      What  is  't  ye  do, 
()  wretched  countrywomen  ?  "  he  exclaims  ; 
"  What  means  this  deed  ?     No  enemy,  or  camp 
Of  hostile  Greeks,  but  your  own  hopes  ye  burn. 
Lo,  I  am  your  Ascanius!  "     At  their  feet 
He  casts  the  empty  helmet  he  had  worn 
In  mimic  battle.      Here  came  hurrying  on  •    800 

./Eneas  and  the  Trojan  bands.     But  now, 
The  women,  struck  with  fear,  fly  here  and  there 
About  the  shores,  and  seek  the  woods  and  caves 
With  stealthy  steps,  ruing  the  deed  commenced, 
And  loathing  the  bright  day.      Changed  now,  they  see  8o5 
And  recognize  their  friends,  and  Juno's  power 
Is  shaken  from  their  breasts.      But  none  the  less 
The  flames  rage  on  still  fierce  and  unsubdued. 
Beneath  the  wet  planks  still  the  smouldering  tow 
Burns  with  dull  smoke;   the  lingering  heat  devours        Bio 
The    ships,    and    down     through    all     their     framework 
creeps; 


206  The  Alneid. 

Nor  human  strength  avails,  nor  streaming  floods. 

Then  good  iEneas  rends  his  robes,  and  calls 
Upon  the  gods  for  aid,  with  outstretched  hands  :  — 
"  O  Jove  Omnipotent,  if  thou  our  race  815 

Not  yet  dost  altogether  hate ;  if  now 
Thy  pity,  shown  of  old,  on  human  woes 
Still  looks  with  tenderness,  then  save  our  fleet 
From  the  devouring  flames!     Now,  father,  snatch 
The  Trojans'  slender  fortunes  from  this  death.  820 

Or,  if  I  so  deserve,  with  thy  right  hand 
Blast  with  thy  thunders  all  that  yet  remains." 
Scarce  had  he  spoken,  when  a  storm  of  rain 
Darkened  the  sky,  and  poured  with  fury  down, 
With  thunder-peals  that  shook  the  hills  and  plains.        8as 
From  the  whole  heavens,  black  gusts  and  windy  floods 
Down-rushing,  drenched   the   ships.      The   half-charred 

beams 
Are  soaked  ;  the  flames  are  quenched  ;   the  vessels  all, 
Save  four,  are  rescued  from  the  fiery  pest. 

iEneas,  by  this  grave  disaster  shocked,  830 

Turned  o'er  and  o'er  his  heavy  cares,  in  doubt 
Whether  on  these  Sicilian  fields  to  stay, 
Forgetful  of  the  fates,  or  try  once  more 


Book    r.  207 

To  reach  the  Italian  shores.      Then  Xautcs,  old 

And  wise,  by  Pallas  taught,  a  sage  renowned 

For  wisdom,  thus  his  counsel  gave,  ami  showed 

Both  what  the  anger  of  the  gods  portends, 

And  what  the  order  of  the  fates  demand    ; 

And  with  these  words  he  cheers  ./Eneas'  thoughts:  — 

"Wherever  Fate  may  lead  us,  whether  on  *-p 

Or  backward,  let  us  follow.      Whatsoe'er 

Betides,  all  fortune  must  be  overcome 

By  endurance.     Here  thou  hast  Acestes,  born 

Of  race  divine,  and  Trojan.     Take  then  him 

Into  thy  counsels,  ready  to  assist.  845 

All  those  who,  now  these  ships  are  lost,  may  prove 

Superfluous,  and  all  those  who  have  grown  tired 

Of  thy  great  enterprise  and  plan,  —  whoe'er 

Is  unavailable,  or  shrinks  from  fear 

Of  danger,  —  these  select,  and  leave  with  him.  850 

Here  let  them  settle,  in  a  city  built 

For  them,  with  his  consent,  called  by  his  name." 

Roused  by  such  counsels  from  his  aged  friend, 
He  ponders  still,  his  mind  distraught  with  cares. 
And  now  black  Night,  upon  her  chariot  borne, 
Held  all  the  sky  :  when,  gliding  down,  he  sees 


2o8  The  Aineid. 

A  vision  of  Anchises'  face,  and  hears 

These  words :   "  My  son,  more  dear  to  me  than  life, 

While  life  remained  !  —  son,  still  by  Trojan  fates 

Long  tried,  —  I  come  to  thee  by  Jove's  command,  s6o 

Who  saved  thy  ships  from  fire,  and  from  on  high 

Looked  with  compassion.     Follow  thou  the  advice 

So  excellent,  the  aged  Nautes  gives. 

The  chosen  youths,  the  bravest  hearts,  take  thou 

To  Italy.     A  rough  and  hardy  race  S65 

Must  be  subdued  in  Latium.     But  seek  first 

The  lower  realms  of  Dis,  and  through  the  deep 

Avernus,  O  my  son,  go  meet  thy  sire. 

For  not  in  wicked  Tartarus  I  dwell, 

With  sorrowing  ghosts,  but  'mid  the  companies  s-o 

Of  upright  souls,  in  blest  Elysium. 

Hither,  with  offered  blood  of  black  sheep  slain, 

The  virgin  Sibyl  will  conduct  thy  steps. 

And  what  thy  future  race  shall  be,  and  what 

The  cities  to  be  given  thee,  thou  shalt  learn.  875 

And  now  farewell :  the  dewy  Night  hath  passed 

Her  high  meridian,  and  the  cruel  Dawn 

Is  breathing  on  me  with  her  panting  steeds." 

He  said  ;  and  faded  into  air,  like  smoke. 

"  Ah,  whither  dost  thou  go  ?  "  iEneas  cried ;  sso 


Book  /'.  209 

11  Why  hasten  thus  away  ?      Whom  fliest  thou  ? 

Or  who  constrains  thee  from  tliv  sou's  embrace!  " 

With  that,  the  slumbering  embers  he  revives; 

Suppliant,  adores  his  Trojan  household  god, 

And  venerable  Vesta,  with  the  meal  885 

Of  sacrifice,  and  with  the  censer  full. 

Forthwith  he  calls  Acestes,  and  his  friends  ; 

And  the  commands  of  Jove  and  of  his  sire 

Declares,  and  how  his  own  intent  now  stands. 

His  plans  are  not  opposed.     Acestes  yields  890 

Assent  to  his  demands.     The  matrons  first 

For  the  new  city  they  enroll  ;   then  all 

Who  are  willing,  set  apart,  —  the  souls  who  need 

Xo  loud  applause  of  fame.     The  rowers'  seats 

They  then  replace,  repair  the  timbers  burned,  895 

And  fit  the  oars  and  ropes.     A  little  band 

They  are,  but  valorous,  and  fresh  for  war. 

Meanwhile  i^neas  with  a  plough  marks  out 
The  city's  boundaries,  and  by  lot  assigns 
The  dwelling-places,  —  Ilium  here,  here  Troy,  900 

As  he  determines.      Pleased,  Acestes  views 
The  place  he  is  to  rule,  the  forum's  code 
27 


210  The  Aineid. 

Declares,  and  gives  the  assembled  fathers  laws. 

Then,  near  the  stars,  upon  Mount  Eryx'  top, 

To  Venus  of  Idalium  they  erect  9°5 

A  temple :  and  to  Anchises'  tomb  they  give 

A  ministering  priest,  and  sacred  grove. 

Now  all  had  held  their  nine  days'  festival, 

With  offerings  due  upon  the  altars  laid. 

The  waves   are   smoothed  :    the    south-wind    freshening 

blows  9IQ 

With  breezy  invitation  to  the  deep. 
Then  all  along  the  shore  rise  tones  of  grief; 
And  last  embraces  night  and  day  retard. 
Nay,  even  the  mothers  —  they  to  whom  erewhile 
The  face  of  Ocean  was  a  bitter  thing  9's 

And  an  intolerable  name  —  would  now 
Depart,  and  dare  all  hardships  of  the  deep. 
With  friendly  words  ^Eneas  comforts  them  ; 
And  to  his  countryman  Acestes  he 
With    tears    commends    them.      Three    young    heifen 

then  9-° 

To  Eryx  he  commands  that  they  shall  slay ; 
And  to  the  Storms  a  lamb.     The  cables  loosed, 
He  stands  upon  the  prow,  his  temples  wreathed 


i 


Bi  wk 


2  I   I 


With  oliyc-leaves,  and  holds  a  cup,  and  throws 

The  entrails  on  the  waves,  and  pours  the  wine. 

A  wind  arising,  follows  as  they  sail  ; 

And  rival  crews  ply  oars,  and  sweep  the  sea. 

But  Venus,  full  of  cares  and  tears,  meanwhile 

Pours  out  her  plaints  to  Neptune  :    "Juno's  wrath 

And  hate  insatiable  compel  me  now,  93° 

0  Neptune,  to  ahase  myself  in  prayers. 

Nor  lapse  of  time,  nor  any  piety 

Can  mitigate  her  rage;   nor  doth  she  rest, 

Baffled  by  Jove's  decree,  and  by  the  fates. 

*T  is  not  enough  for  her  to  have  devoured  935 

The  Phrygian  city  with  her  wicked  hate  ; 

Nor  to  have  dragged  through  every  penal  pain 

The  wretched  remnants  of  the  Trojan  race: 

The  very  ashes  and  the  bones  of  Troy 

Ruined,  she  still  pursues.      What  causes  prompt  940 

Such  rage,  she  best  can  tell.     Thou  sawest  thyself 

What  storms  she  raised,  of  late,  amid  the  waves 

Of  Lybia ;   mingling  all  the  sea  and  sky, 

Vainly  enforced  with  her  ./Eolian  blasts, 

She  dared  to  invade  thy  realms.      And  now,  behold  I 

Maddening  the  Trojan  mothers,  she  basely  burns 


2 1 2  The    Aineid. 

Their  ships,  and  drives  the  crews  to  lands  unknown. 

For  what  remains,  I  do  entreat  that  thou 

Wilt  grant  a  voyage  safe  across  the  seas, 

That  so  Laurentian  Tiber  they  may  reach  ;  950 

If  what  I  ask  be  so  allowed  by  Jove, 

And  fate  may  grant  the  cities  which  they  seek." 

To  whom  the  Saturnian  ruler  of  the  deep  :  — 

"'T  is  right,  O  Cytherea,  thou  shouldst  trust 

My  realms,  from  whence  thy  life  was  born.     I  too         955 

Deserve  this  confidence,  —  oft  having  curbed 

The  rage  of  seas  and  skies.     Nor  less  on  land 

(Let  Simois  and  Xanthus  testify) 

Has  thy  iEneas  been  my  charge.     What  time 

Achilles  chased  the  breathless  troops  of  Troy,  960 

And  pressed  them  hard  against  the  city's  walls, 

When  thousands  fell,  and  the  choked  rivers  groaned 

With  corpses,  nor  could  Xanthus  find  a  way, 

Or  roll  his  waters  to  the  ocean  ;   then 

/Eneas,  having  met  Achilles  there,  9fi5 

Ill-matched  in  strength,  and  aid  from  powers  divine, 

I  snatched  away,  and  hid  him  in  a  cloud  : 

Though  I  desired  to  overthrow  the  work 

Of  my  own  hands,  the  walls  of  perjured  Troy. 


Book    v. 


~ '  j 


Now  still  my  friendly  purpose  holds.      PUlBJ 
Thy  fears.     He  sale  will  reach  the  Ausonun  port! 
Desired  by  thee.      One  only  .shall  he  mi  s, 
Lost  in  the  waves,  —  one  life  for  many  given." 

Thus  having  soothed  and  filled  her  heart  with   joy, 

The  hither  harnesses  his  steeds  in  gold, 

With  foaming  hits,  and  all  his  reins  shakes  loose 

And  in  his  sea-blue  car  glides  o'er  the  waves. 

The  waves  subside,  the  swelling  plain  is  smooth 

Beneath  his  thundering  wheels;   the  clouds  are  driven 

From  the  vast  sky.      Then  thronging  come  the  forms.    9S0 

Of  his  attendants,  monsters  of  the  deep:  — 

The  train  oi  Glaucus,  and  Pahemon,  son 

Of  Ino,  and  the  Tritons  swift;    the  bands 

Of  Phorcus;   with  them  Thetis,  Melite, 

Nesaee,  and  the  virgin  Panope, 

Spio,  Thalia,  and  Cymodoce. 

Now  joy  in  turn  pervades  Eneas'  soul, 
Late  in  suspense.      He  orders  all  the  masts 
To  be  erected,  and  the  canvas  spread. 
The  ships  all  move  as  one.      Now  to  the  left, 
Now  to  the  right  they  tack,  and  loose  the  sails, 


2 1 4  The   yEneid. 

Or  turn  and  turn  again  their  peaked  tops 

Together.     Favoring  winds  bear  on  the  fleet; 

And  Palinurus  leads  the  squadron  on. 

The  rest  all  follow  as  the  pilot  bids.  99s 

And  now  moist  Night  had  touched  her  goal  midway 
In  heaven.     Beneath  their  oars  the  sailors  lie, 
'Mid  their  hard  benches,  lapped  in  sweet  repose. 
When,  dropping  from  the  stars,  the  god  of  sleep 
Glides  down  the  darkness  and  dispels  the  shades  icoo 

Bringing  sad  dreams  into  thy  guileless  soul, 

0  Palinurus!     On  the  lofty  stern 

He  lights  in  Phorbas'  shape,  and  pours  these  words 

Into  his  ear  :   "The  waves  themselves  bear  on 

Our  fleet :  the  full  breeze  blows  astern  :   this  hour  icos 

For  sleep  is  meet.     O  Palinurus,  rest 

Thy  head,  and  close  thine  eyes  o'ertasked  with  toil. 

1  myself  for  a  while  will  take  thy  place." 
But  Palinurus  scarcely  raised  his  eyes, 

And  answered  :   "  Dost  thou  bid  me  to  forget  1010 

The  Ocean's  placid  face,  —  these  quiet  waves? 
And  to  confide  in  such  a  wondrous  calm  ? 
How  to  the  treacherous  south-winds  can  I  trust 
./Eneas,  by  such  skies  serene  so  oft 


Book  v.  215 

Deceived?"     He  said;  and,  clinging  to  the  helm,       101s 

Held  fiiSt,  and  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  stars. 

But  lo!   the  god  shakes  o'er  his  brows  a  branch 

Dripping  with  Lethean  dew  and  drowsy  spells 

01   Stygian  strength,  and  seals  his  swimming  eyes, 

That  strive  to  lite  their  lids.      The  untimely  rest  1010 

Had  scarce  relaxed  his  limbs,  when,  pressing  hard 

Upon  his  frame,  the  demon  hurls  him  down 

Prone  on  the  waves,  a  fragment  of  the  stern 

And  the  whole  rudder  in  his  clutch,  torn  off; 

And  leaves  him  calling  to  his  friends  in  vain  :  10*5 

Then  spreads  his  wings,  and  vanishes  in  air. 

Yet  onward  sails  the  fleet,  in  safety  borne 

Unterriried,  by  Neptune's  promised  aid. 

And  now  they  near  the  Sirens'  rocks,  of  old 

A  perilous  shore,  and  white  with  many  bones  ;  103c 

Where  the  perpetual  dashing  of  the  waves 

Hoarsely  resounds  from  far.     iEneas  now 

Perceives  the  unsteady  wavering  of  his  ship, 

Its  pilot  being  lost.      Then  he  himself 

Steers  through  the  billows  dark,  with  many  a  groan,      1335 

Grieved  to  the  heart  to  know  his  friend  is  lost. 

"O  Palinurus,  who  didst  trust  too  far 

The  skies  and  seas  serene,  a  naked  corpse 

Thou  now  wilt  lie,  upon  some  unknown  sands  !  " 


BOOK    VI. 

\\  KEEPING  he  spoke,  then  gave  his  fleet  the  reins, 

Until  at  length  Eubcean  Cumae's  shores 
They  reach.     Seaward  the  prows  are  turned  ;   the  ships 
Fast  anchored,  and  the  curved  sterns  fringe  the  beach. 
On  the  Hesperian  shore  the  warriors  leap  s 

With  eager  haste.     Some  seek  the  seminal  flame 
Hid  in  the  veins  of  flint;  some  rob  the  woods, 
The  dense  abode  of  beasts,  and  rivulets 
Discover.     But  the  good  iEneas  seeks 
The  heights  o'er  which  the  great  Apollo  rules,  1° 

And  the  dread  cavern  where  the  Sibyl  dwells, 
Revered  afar,  whose  soul  the  Delian  god 
Inspires  with  thought  and  passion,  and  to  her 
Reveals  the  future.     And  now  Dian's  groves 
They  enter,  and  the  temple  roofed  with  gold.  »5 

The  story  goes,  that  Da?dalus,  who  fled 

From  Minos,  dared  to  trust  himself  with  wings 


Book  ii.  217 

I'pon  the  air,  and  sailed  in  untried  flight 
Toward  the  frigid  Arctic,  till  at  length 
He  hovered  over  the  Cumsean  towers.  10 

Here  first  restored  to  earth,  he  gave  to  thee, 
Phoebus,  his  oar-like  wings,  a  sacred  gift, 
And  built  a  spacious  temple  to  thy  name. 
Upon  the  doors  Androgeos'  death  was  carved  : 
Then  Cecrops'  wretched  sons,  who  year  by  year  25 

Were  doomed  to  yield  their  children  up  by  sevens, 
To  atone  for  their  misdeed.     There  stands  the  urn, 
The  lots  drawn  out.     Opposite,  raised  above 
The  sea,  the  isle  of  Crete;  the  amour  base 
Of  Pasiphae,  and  the  Minotaur,  30 

The  biformed  offspring  of  unhallowed  lust. 
Here  stands  the  labor  of  the  labyrinth 
And  its  inextricable  winding  maze. 
But  Dxdalus,  who  pitied  the  great  love 
Of  Ariadne,  the  blind,  tortuous  ways  35 

Himself  unriddled,  guiding  with  a  thread 
The  steps  of  Theseus.     Thou  too,  Icarus, 
Had  grief  permitted,  wouldst  have  had  great  part 
In  such  a  work.     Twice  he  essayed  to  mould 
Thy  fate  in  gold  :   twice  dropped  the  father's  hands.        40 
And  further  they  would  have  perused  each  work, 
28 


218  The  Aineid. 

Had  not  Achates,  sent  before,  appeared ; 

With  him  Deiphobe,  the  priestess  she 

Of  Phoebus  and  Diana,  who  thus  spoke :  — 

"  No  time  is  this  to  gaze  at  idle  shows.  45 

Best  now,  from  out  an  untouched  herd,  to  take 

Seven  steers,  and  offer  as  a  sacrifice ; 

Also  as  many  chosen  two-year  ewes." 


This  to  iEneas  said,  without  delay 

They  haste  to  execute  her  high  commands.  5° 

The  priestess  summons  then  the  Trojan  chiefs 

To  her  high  temple,  a  vast  cavern  hewn 

From  the  Euboean  rock.     A  hundred  doors 

And  avenues  are  there,  whence  rushing  come 

As  many  voices  of  prophetic  power,  55 

The  Sibyl's  answers.     At  the  threshold  now, 

"'T  is  time,"  the  virgin  said,  "to  ask  with  prayers 

Thy  destiny  :  —  the  god  !   behold,  the  god  !  " 

As  thus  before  the  gates  she  speaks,  her  face 

And  color  suddenly  change  ;  —  unkempt  her  hair  ;  —     60 

Her  panting  breast  and  wild  heart  madly  heaves ; 

Larger  she  seems :   unearthly  rings  her  voice, 

As  nearer  breathed  the  presence  of  the  god. 

"  What,  art  thou  then  so  sluggish  in  thy  vows, 


Book    VL  2IQ 

Trojan  i^Eneas,  and  so  slow  to  pray  ? 

Haste,  for  not  else  these  awe-struck  doors  will  ope  !  " 

She  ceased.      A  shudder  through  the  Trojans  ran  ; 

And  from  his  inmost  soul  the  chief  thus  prays  : 

"Apollo,  who  the  sufferings  of  Troy 

Mast  ever  pitied  :    thou  who  didst  direct  70 

The  hand  and  shaft  of  Paris  when  it  struck 

Achilles,  —  led  by  thee,  so  many  seas 

Circling  so  many  realms,  I  have  explored, 

And  distant  dwellings  of  Massy  Han  tribes, 

And  lands  beyond  the  Syrtes.     Now  at  length  75 , 

We  grasp  the  Italy  that  seemed  so  long 

A  flying  vision.     Though  thus  far  we  have  come, 

Pursued  by  a  Trojan  fortune,  yet  for  you, 

Ye  gods  and  goddesses,  to  whom  the  name 

And  fame  of  Troy  have  proved  an  obstacle,  «o 

'Tis  just  that  ye  should  spare  our  nation  now. 

And  thou,  most  sacred  prophetess,  whose  eye 

Foresees  the  future,  grant  (I  do  not  ask 

A  kingdom  which  my  fates  have  never  owed) 

That  I  in  Latium  may  establish  all  85 

My  Trojans,  and  Troy's  outcast  household  gods 

Long  tossed  upon  the  seas.     Then  will  I  build 

A  marble  temple  sacred  to  the  praise 


220  The   Aineid. 

Of  Phoebus  and  Diana,  and  ordain 

Great  festal  days  called  by  Apollo's  name.  9° 

A  spacious  sanctuary  too  for  thee 

Shall  stand.     There  will  I  place  thy  oracles, 

And  secret  fates  delivered  to  my  race, 

And  consecrate,  O  seer  benign,  to  thee 

A  chosen  priesthood  !     Only  do  not  write  95 

Thy  prophecies  on  leaves,  lest  blown  about 

They  fly,  the  sport  of  fitful  winds.     Thyself 

Utter  thy  oracles." 

The  prophetess, 
Impatient  of  the  overpowering  god, 

Here  raves  in  a  wild  frenzy  through  her  cave,  100 

And  strives  from  off  her  breast  to  shake  the  spell 
Divine.     But  all  the  more  the  deity 
Fatigues  her  foaming  lips,  and,  pressing  down, 
Subdues  her  fiery  heart.     But  now,  behold, 
The  hundred  doors  fly  open  of  their  own  105 

Accord,  and  bear  this  answer  through  the  air : 

"  O  thou  who  hast  passed  the  perils  of  the  sea ! 

A  heavier  lot  on  land  remains  for  thee. 

Thy  Trojans  the  Lavinian  realm  shall  find. 

Dismiss  this  doubt  and  trouble  from  thy  mind.  no 


Book     II.  22  1 

Yet  will  they  rue  their  coining.      Dreadful  war, 

And  Tiber  frothed  with  blood,  I  see  from  far. 

No  Simois  there  nor  Xanthus  shalt  thou  lack, 

Nor  Grecian  camps  to  threaten  and  attack. 

Another  Achilles  there  shall  cross  thy  path,  nj 

Horn  of  a  goddess,  and  dire  Juno's  wrath 

Never  be  absent.      Desolate  and  poor, 

What  cities  shalt  thou  not  for  aid  implore  ! 

Again  a  Trojan  guest,  a  foreign  wife 

In  Latium  shall  renew  the  bloody  strife.  no 

Vet  yield  not  thou,  but  go  more  boldly  on, 

Where  Fortune  leads,  till  victory  be  won. 

Thy  safety  first  shall  come  when  thou,  cast  down, 

Shalt  least  expect  it,  from  a  Grecian  town." 

Thus  from  her  cave  the  Cunr.ran  Sibyl  pours  >-s 

Her  dread  and  mystic  utterance,  moaning  low, 

Involving  in  obscurity  her  truths. 

And  while  she  raves,  Apollo  seems  to  shake 

His  reins  above  her,  and  still  turns  his  goad 

Beneath  her  breast.     Soon  as  the  fury  ceased,  '■ 

And  the  wild  lips  were  still,  /Eneas  spoke  :  — 

"  None  of  these  trials  comes,  O  virgin  seer, 

With  new  and  unexpected  face  to  me. 


222  The   Aineid. 

All  was  foreseen  and  pondered  in  my  mind. 

One  thing  I  ask  of  thee,  —  since  here,  'tis  said  135 

The  gateway  opens  to  the  lower  world, 

And  that  dim  shadowy  lake,  the  o'erflowing  tide 

Of  Acheron,  —  that  I  may,  face  to  face, 

Meet  my  dear  father.     Show  me  then  the  way ; 

Open  the  sacred  portals.      Him,  through  flames  140 

And  through  a  thousand  flying  javelins, 

I  bore  upon  these  shoulders,  from  our  foes 

So  rescued.     He  through  all  the  dreary  seas 

Was  my  companion,  and  all  threatenings  bore 

Of  ocean  and  of  sky,  feeble  and  old,  145 

Yet  with  a  strength  beyond  the  lot  of  age. 

Yea,  he  it  was  whose  prayer  and  whose  command 

Sent  me  a  suppliant  to  thy  doors.     I  pray, 

O  virgin  blest,  that  thou  wilt  pity  us, 

Father  and  son  ;  for  all  things  thou  canst  do  ;  150 

Nor  was  't  in  vain  that  Hecate  set  thee  o'er 

The  Avernian  groves.     If  Orpheus  could  call  back 

His  wife,  confiding  in  his  Thracian  lyre 

And  ringing  chords;   if  Pollux  could  redeem 

His  brother  by  alternate  death,  and  goes  15s 

And  comes  so  oft  this  way,  (why  need  I  speak 

Of  Theseus,  or  of  mighty  Hercules?) 


Book    II.  2  2  J 

I  too,  like  them,  derive  my  birth  from   Jove." 

Thus  he  besought,  and  Oil  the  altar  held. 

"Son  of  Anchises,  born  of  blood  divine," 

The  priestess  thus  began,  "easy  the  way 

Down  to  A  vermis;    night  and  day  the  gates 

Of  Dis  stand  open.      But  to  retrace  thy  steps 

And  reach  the  upper  air,  —  here  lies  the  task, 

The  difficulty  here.      A  few  by  Jove 

Beloved,  or  to  ethereal  heights  upborne 

By  virtue's  glowing  force,  sons  of  the  gods, 

The  labor  have  achieved.      Midway  thick  woods 

The  passage  bar,  and,  winding  all  about, 

Cocytus'  black  and  sinuous  river  glides.  173 

But  it  such  strong  desire  be  thine,  to  float 

Twice  o'er  the  Stygian  lake;  if  the  mad  task 

Delights  thee,  twice  to  see  the  gloomy  realms 

Of  Tartarus  ;  —  learn  what  must  first  be  done. 

Hid  in  the  leafy  darkness  of  a  tree, 

There  is  a  golden  bough,  the  leaves  and  stem 

Also  of  gold,  and  sacred  to  the  queen 

Of  the  infernal  realm.     The  grove  around 

Hides  it  from  view;   the  shades  of  valleys  dim 

Close  in  and  darken  all  the  place.      But  none  ■ 

The  deep  recesses  of  the  under-world 


224  The  Aineid. 

Can  venture  down,  till  he  has  plucked  that  spray 

With  golden  tresses.     Fair  Proserpina 

Demands  this  gift  as  hers  alone.     When  plucked, 

Another  shoot  fails  not,  but  buds  again  1S5 

With  the  same  golden  foliage  and  stalk. 

Therefore  look  high  among  the  leaves,  and  seize 

The  branch,  when  found.     'T  will  give  itself  to  thee 

With  ready  will,  if  fate  shall  favor  thee. 

If  otherwise,  no  strength  nor  sharpened  steel  »9° 

Can  sever  it.     But  now  —  thou  know'st  it  not, 

Alas!  —  a  friend  of  thine  lies  dead:   his  corpse 

Pollutes  the  entire  fleet,  while  here  thou  stay'st 

Seeking  our  counsel,  lingering  at  our  doors. 

First,  bear  him  to  his  fitting  burial-place,  19s 

Offering  black  cattle,  thy  first  sacrifice 

Of  expiation.     So  shalt  thou  at  last 

Behold  the  Stygian  groves,  by  living  souls 

Untrod."     She  ceased  to  speak,  with  lips  compressed. 

Sad,  and  with  downcast  eyes,  ^neas  leaves  *<» 

The  Sibyl's  cave,  revolving  in  his  mind 
These  mysteries.     Trusty  Achates  too 
Attending  him,  the  same  deep  cares  oppress. 
Of  many  things  they  talked  upon  the  way, 


Book  ri.  225 


And  wondered  who  the  friend  might  be  whose  death    *--s 
The  prophetess  announced,  —  what  lifeless  form 

Demanding  burial  rites.      But  when  they  arrived, 
Behold,  MisenuS  stretched  upon  the  shore 
They  see,  —  snatched  by  unworthy  death  away;  — 
Misenus,  son  of  /Eolus,  than  whom  210 

None  blew  the  trumpet  with  more  skill,  to  call 
The  warriors  and  inflame  to  martial  deeds. 
The  mighty  Hector's  comrade  he  had  been, 
With  clarion  and  with  spear  alike  renowned. 
By  Hector's  side  he  had  often  fought;   but  when  -15 

Victorious  Achilles  slew  this  chief, 
He-joined  x'Eneas,  no  inferior  choice. 
But  now,  when  thoughtlessly  with  hollow  shell 
He  made  the  seas  resound, — as  though  he  called 
The  gods  to  match  his  strains,  —  Triton,  if  so  *w 

The  tale  may  be  believed,  with  jealous  rage 
Seized  him  among  the  rocks,  and  plunged  him  deep 
Within  the  foaming  waves.     So,  round  his  corpse, 
W  ith  loud  lamenting  cries  they  gathered  all, 
iEneas  grieving  most.     With  tearful  eyes  »»s 

They  hasten  then,  as  by  the  Sibyl  bid, 
To  build  a  funeral  pile,  and  heap  it  high 
With  wood.      Into  the  ancient  forest  then, 
29 


226  The   Aineid. 

The  lair  of  savage  beasts,  they  go.     Down  fall 

The  pitch-trees,  and  the  ilex  trunks  resound  230 

Beneath  their  axes;   roan  and  oak  are  split, 

And  from  the  mountain  ash-trees  huge  are  rolled. 

iEneas,  chief  amid  these  labors,  cheers 

His  comrades  at  their  work,  and  wields  the  axe 

With  them.     But  gazing  at  the  forest  depths  23s 

Immense,  from  his  sad  heart  escapes  this  prayer :  — 

"  Ah,  if  within  this  wood  that  golden  bough 

Would  now  but  show  itself!     For  all  comes  true 

The  prophetess  hath  told,  —  too  true  of  thee, 

Misenus!"     Scarcely  had  he  said  these  words,  24° 

When  from  the  sky  two  doves  before  him  flew, 

And  lit  upon  the  grass.     The  hero  knows 

His  mother's  birds,  and  joyfully  he  prays : 

"  Be  ye  my  guides !     O,  if  there  be  a  way, 

Direct  me  where  that  rich  bough  'mid  the  trees  245 

Shadows  the  fertile  soil !     And  fail  not  thou, 

Mother  divine,  in  this  my  doubtful  quest." 

So  saying,  he  checked  his  steps,  observing  all 

Their  motions  and  their  course.     They,  here  and  there 

Feeding  along  their  track,  no  farther  flew  25= 

Than  could  be  followed  by  the  eye.     At  length 

They  reached  the  place  where  dark  Avernus  breathes 


Book  ii. 

Its  noisome  funics  ;    then  upward  took  their  flight. 

And,  gliding  through  the  yielding  air,  they  perch 

Upon  the  tree,  their  place  of  rest  desired,  »ss 

Where,  with  contrasted  hue,  the  golden  hough 

Gleamed  through  the  leaves.      As  in  the  frosty  woods 

The  mistletoe,  which  springs  not  from  the  tree 

On  which  it  grows,  puts  forth  a  foliage  new, 

And  ringj^fce  smooth  round  trunks  with  saffron  tufts,    *6o 

So  on  theTiark  tree  shone  the  leafy  gold 

And  tinkled  in  the  breeze.      With  eager  hand 

iEneas^  grasps  and  breaks  the  lingering  branch, 

And  to  the  Sibyl's  dwelling  bears  it  off. 

Meanwhile  upon  the  shore  the  Trojans  mourned  its 

Misenus  dead,  and  the  last  funeral  rites 

Paid  to  his  unresponsive  ashes.     First 

A  lofty  pile,  split  oak  and  unctuous  pine, 

They  build,  and  twine  the  sides  with  sombre  boughs, 

And  place  the  funeral  cypresses  in  front,  170 

And  deck  the  pyre  with  shining  armor.      Some 

The  bubbling  caldrons  heat,  bathe  and  anoint 

The  frigid  corpse,_with  groans:   upon  a  couch 

Lay  the  lamented  limbs,  and  o'er  them  throw 

The  well-known  garments  and  the  purple  robes ; 


228  The   sEneid. 

Some  on  their  shoulders  lift  the  bier,  —  sad  task!  — 

And,  as  the  custom  was,  apply  the  torch 

With  heads  averted.     Offerings  are  burned 

Of  incense,  sacrificial  flesh,  and  oil. 

The  ashes  having  fallen,  and  the  flame 

Burned  out,  the  smouldering  remains  are  steeped 

In  wine;  and  Corynaeus  then  collects 

The  bones,  and  stores  them  in  a  brazen  urn. 


a 


Thrice  round  thejfriends,  with  fertile  olive-br^^h, 

He  sprinkles  water  in  a  dewy  shower  285 

Of  purifying  drops ;   the  last  farewell 

Then  speaks.     But  good  ./Eneas  heaps  a  tomb 

Of  spacious  size,  and  lays  the  implements 

Thereon  his  friend  was  wont  to  use,  —  the  oar 

And  trumpet,  under  the  aerial  mount  *9° 

Which  now  from  him  the  name  Misenus  bears 

And  evermore  will  bear. 

These  things  being  done, 
He  hastens  to  perform  the  Sibyl's  charge. 
There  was  a  cavern  deep  with  yawning  jaws 
Enormous,  stony,  screened  by  a  gloomy  lake  295. 

And  shadowy  woods:    no  winged  thing  could  fly 
Unscathed  above  it,  such  the  baleful  breath 
That  from  the  opening  rose  to  the  upper  air : 


Book 


n. 


(The  place  thence  called  Aornos  by  the  (Jrceks.) 

Here  first  the  priestess  placing  four  black  steers,  300 

Upon  their  foreheads  pours  the  sacred  wine, 

And  plucks  the  topmost  hairs  between  the  horns, 

And  lays  them,  the  first  offerings,  on  the  flames, 

Invoking  Hecate,  strong  in  heaven  and  hell. 

The  knives  perform  their  work  :   the  tepid  blood 

I-  caught^Bhowls.      Himself  /Pneas  slays 


9 


To  NighJ^e  mother  oi  the  Eumenides, 

And  to  her  mighty  sister,  a  black  lamb  ; 

Also  a  barren  cow,  Proserpina, 

To  thee.     Next  to  the  Stygian  king  he  builds  310 

Nocturnal  altars,  and  whole  carcasses 

Of  bulls  he  burns,  and  on  the  holocaust 

Pours  out  the  unctuous  oil  amid  the  flames. 

When  lo,  as  the  first  sunbeams  lit  the  place, 

The  earth  beneath  began  to  rumble,  and  tops  3<5 

Of   wooded  hills  to  move;  and  through  the  shades 

They  seemed  to  hear  the  yelling  of  the  hounds 

Of  hell,  that  told  the  coming  goddess  near. 

u  Away,  unhallowed  ones!"  the  Sibyl  cries; 

"  And  leave  the  whole  grove  clear.      But  thou  press  on, 

And  draw  thy  sword  :   for  now,  y£neas,  now,  i*« 

Firm  and  undaunted  thou  must  prove."     She  said, 


230  The  ^Eneid. 

And  madly  plunged  into  the  open  cave. 
He  with  no  timid  step  keeps  pace  with  her. 


Ye  deities,  whose  empire  is  of  souls!  3^5 

Ye  silent  Shades,  —  Chaos  and  Phlegethon  ! 

Ye  wide  dumb  spaces  stretching  through  the  night 

Be  it  lawful  that  I  speak  what  I  have  heard, 

And  by  your  will  divine  unfold  the  things 

Buried  in  gloomy  depths  of  deepest  earth  !      ^^  W 


I 


Through  shadows,  through  the  lonely  night  they  went, 

Through  the  blank  halTTand  emptyrealms  of  Dis : 

As  when  by  the  uncertain  moon  one  walks 

Beneath  a  light  malign,  amid  the  woods, 

When  all  the  sky^isovercast,  and  night  33s 

Robs  all  things  of  their  color.     In  the  throat 

Of  Hell,  before  the  very  vestibule 

Of  opening  Orcus,  sit  Remorse  and  Grief, 

And  pale  Disease,  and  sad  Old  Age,  and  Fear, 

And  Hunger  that  persuades  to  crime,  and  Want :  —       340 

Forms  terrible  to  see.     Suffering  and  Death 

Inhabit  here,  and  Death's  own  brother,  Sleep; 

And  the  mind's  evil  Lusts,  and  deadly  War 

Lie  at  the  threshold,  and  the  iron  beds 


/i&k    II.  2;,  I 

Of  the  Eumcnides;  and  Discord  wild,  345 

Her  viper-locks  with  bloody  fillets  hound. 

Here  in  the  midst,  a  huge  and  shadowy  elm 

Spreads  out  its  aged  boughs,  —  the  seat,  't  is  said, 

Of  empty  dreams,  that  cling  beneath  the  leaves. 

And  here  besides  are  many  savage  shapes  350 

Ot   mons^Bus  phantoms,  —  Centaurs,  in  their  stalls  ; 

Scyllas  offiouble  form  ;  and  Briareus 

The  hundred-handed  ;   and  the  hissing  snake 

Of  Lerna  ;  the  Chimaera  armed  with  flames; 

And  Gorgons,  Harpies,  and  the  triple  shade  355 

Of  Gervon.'    Here  with  sudden  tremor  seized, 

/Eneas  draws  his  sword,  the  keen  bare  edge 

Opposing  as  they  come.     And  had  not  then 

His  wise  companion  warned  him  that  these  forms 

Were  but  a  flitting  swarm  of  bodiless  36a 

Andjansubstantial  ghosts,  he  would  have  rushed 

Among  them,  cleaving  but  the  empty  air. 

Hence  downward  leads  the  way  to  Tartarus 

And  Acheron.     A  gulf  of  turbid  mire 

Here  foams  with  vortex  vast,  and  belches  forth  36s 

Into  Cocytus  all  its  floods  of  sand. 


232  The   Aineid. 

By  these  dread  rivers  waits  the  ferryman 

Squalid  and  grim,  Charon,  his  grisly  beard 

Uncombed  and  thick  ;  his  eyes  are  flaming  lamps ; 

A  filthy  garment  from  his  shoulders  hangs.  370 

He  tends  his  sails,  and  with  his  pole  propels 

His  barge  of  dusky  iron  hue,  that  bears 

The  dead  across  the  river.     Old  he  seems, 

But  with  a  green  old  age.      Down  to  the  banl^t 

Comes  rushing  the  whole  crowd,  matrons  andWen,       375 

Great  heroes,  boys,  unwedded  girls,  and  youths 

Their  parents  saw  stretched  on  their  funeral  pile ; 

Thick  as  the  clustering  leaves  that  fall  amid 

The  forests  in  the  first  autumnal  chill, 

Or  as  the  flocks  of  birds  that  from  the  sea  380 

Fly  landward,  by  the  frigid  season  sent 

Across  the  main,  to  seek  a  sunnier  clime.  v 

They,  praying  to  be  first  to  cross  the  stream, 

Were  standing,  longing  for  the  farther  shore, 

With  outstretched  arms.     But  the  stern  ferryman  3S5 

Now  these,  now  those,  receives  into  his  boat, 

But  drives  afar  the  others  from  the  beach. 

Moved  by  the  tumult,  and  with  wonder  filled, 
iEneas  cries  :   "  O  virgin,  tell  me  what 


Book   VL 


I    »    . 

-  $  j 


This  crowd  may  mean  that  to  the  river  moves. 

What  do  these  spirits  seek  ?     What  difference 

()i    fate  leaves  these  behind,  while  those  are  rowed 

Across  the  livid  waves?"      Then  answered  thus 

The  aged  Sibyl:   "Great  Anchises'  son, 

Thou  seest  Cocytus,  and  the  Stygian  lake,  yjs 

By  which  the  gods  do  fear  falsely  to  swear  ; 

This  cro«,  the  needy  and  unburied  dead  ; 

Yon  ferryman  is  Charon.     Those  he  bears 

Across  had  burial  rites.     No  one  may  pass 

Those  dreadful  waves,  until  his  bones  repose  4  j 

Within  a  quiet  grave.     A  hundred  years 

They  wander,  flitting  all  around  these  shores, 

Until  at  last  they  cross  the  wished-for  lake." 

Absorbed  in  thought,  i^Eneas  paused  and  stood, 
Pitying  their  cruel  lot.     And  now  he  sees,  ¥>s 

Sad,  and  without  their  needed  burial  rites, 
Leucaspis  and  Orontes  who  had  led 
The  Lycian  fleet,  and  both  of  whom,  from  Troy 
Together  driven  across  the  stormy  deeps, 
\  The  south-wind  struck,  and  ship  and  crew  o'erwhelmed. 
Lo,  Palinurus  too,  his  pilot,  comes;  41  • 

Who,  while  upon  his  Lybian  course  he  watched 
30 


234  The  AineicL 

The  stars,  of  late,  down  from  the  stern  had  fallen 

Into  the  sea.     His  sad  face  in  the  gloom 

iEneas  scarcely  knew.     "Which  of  the  gods,"  4«s 

He  said,  "  O  Palinurus,  snatched  thy  form 

Away  from  us,  and  plunged  thee  in  the  waves? 

Tell  me,  I  pray;  for  great  Apollo  ne'er 

Deceived  me,  till  this  one  response  he  gave, 

That  thou  shouldst  safely  pass  the  sea,  and  reacM  v-o 

The  Ausonian  shores.     Lo,  thus  he  keeps  his  word! " 

Then  he :/"  Neither  did  Phoebus'  oracle 

Deceive,  nor  me  did  any  god  immerse 

In  the  deep  sea  :   for  falling  headlong  down, 

I  dragged  with  me  the  helm,  by  chance  torn  off,  **j 

To  which  I  clung,  being  set  to  guard  it  there, 

And  guide  our  course.     By  the  rough  seas  I  swear, 

That  for  myself  I  had  no  fear  so  great, 

As  that  thy  ship,  her  rudder  torn  away, 

Her  pilot  lost,  might  sink  amid  such  waves.  43° 

Three  wintry  nights  across  the  ocean  wastes 

The  stormy  south-wind  drifted  me  along, 

Till  on  the  fourth  day,  from  the  billow's  top, 

Italia  I  descried ;  and  by  degrees 

Swam  to  the  shore,  where  safe  I  should  have  been,        435 

Had  not  a  barbarous  horde  attacked  me  there 


Book    1 7. 


23  s 


With  swords  (my  heavy  garments  dripping  wet, 

And  clinging  to  the  rocks  with  claw-like  clutch   , 

Hoping  tor  plunder  in  their  ignorance. 

The  waves  and  winds  now  toss  me  about  the  shore.        4>o 

There  fore_I  pray  the^bjMheprccious  lig  h  t 

And  air  of  heaven,  the  memory  of  thy  sire, 

And  by  the  hopes  thy  young  lulus  brings, 

C)  thou  uijeonquered,  snatch  me  from  these  woes  ! 

And  either  heap  the  earth  upon  my  bones, — 

For  thou  canst  do  it,  seeking  Velia's  port, — 

Or,  if  there  be  some  way,  —  some  way  made  known 

By  thy  great  goddess-mother  unto_thee 

(For  I  must  think  that  not  without  consent_ 

Divine,  thou  art  prepared  to  float  across  45° 

The  Stygian  lake),  —  then  give  thy  hand  to  me 

Wretched,  and  take  me  with  thee  through  the  waves ; 

So  I  at  least  in  death  may  find  a  place 

Of^rest."     To  whom  the  prophetess  replied  :  — 

"O  Palinurus,  whence  this  wild  desire?  455 

Canst  thou  unburied  cross  the  Stygian  waves, 

And  see  the  Eumenides'  forbidding  stream, 

And  reach  yon  bank  unsummoned?     Cease  to  hope 

By  prayers  to  bend  the  destinies  divine. 

Yet  take  these  words  to  mind,  to  cheer  thy  lot.  4* 


236  The   Alneid. 


For  be  assured,  the  people  of  that  coast, 

And  through  their  cities  far  and  wide,  impelled 

By  omens  from  on  high,  shall  expiate 

Thy  death  with  fitting  rites,  and  build  a  tomb 

With  annual  offerings  given ;  and  by  the  name  465 

Of  Palinurus  shall  the  place  be  called 

Forevermore."     These  words  a  little  while 

Dispelled  his  grief,  while  he  rejoiced  to  know    . 

There  was  a  land  destined  to  bear  his  name. 

So  on  their  way  they  go,  and  near  the  stream  :  470 

When  now  the  boatman  from  the  Stygian  wave 

Espied  them  moving  through  the  silent  woods, 

And  drawing  near  the  bank,  with  chiding  words 

He  thus  accosts  them  :   "  Whosoe'er  thou  art 

That  drawest  near  our  river  thus,  all  armed,  475 

Say  why  thou  comest.     Stop  there  where  thou  art ! 

This  is  the  realm  of  Shadows  and  of  Sleep, 

And  drowsy  Night.     None  living  are  allowed 

To  cross  the  river  in  the  Stygian  boat. 

In  sooth  I  was  not  pleased  to  have  received  48° 

Alcides,  Theseus,  nor  Pirithoiis, 

Albeit  divine  and  of  unconquered  strength. 

The  first  of  these  with  his  own  hand  bound  fast 


Book  vi.  237 

The  sentinel  of  Tartarus  in  chains, 

And  dragged  him  trembling  from  our  king's  own  throne. 

The  others  strove  to  hear  aw  av  our  queen  486 

From  Pluto's  bridal-chamber."     Briefly  then 

The  Amphrysian  prophetess  replied  :   "  No  plots 

Like  those  are  here.      Be  not  alarmed.     This  sword 

No  violence  intends.      Let  Cerberus,  4. 

Forever  parking  in  his  cave,  affright 

These  bloodless  ghosts;   let  chaste  Proserpina 

Still  keep  within  her  uncle's  doors,  unharmed. 

Trojan  lEneas,  well  renowned  for  arms 

And  filial  reverence,  to  these  lower  shades  495 

Of  Erebus  descends  to  meet  his  sire. 

If  by  such  piety  thou  art  not  moved, 

At  least  this  branch  thou  wilt  acknowledge."     Here 

She  showed  the  branch  concealed  within  her  robe. 

At  once  his  anger  fell,  nor  more  he  spake;  s-3 

But  gazed,  admiring,  at  the  fated  bough, 

The  offering  revered,  so  long  a  time 

Unseen;   and  toward  them  turns  around  his  barge 

Of  dusky  hue,  and  brings  it  to  the  shore. 

The  ghosts  .that  all  along  its  benches  sat, 

Pie  hurries  out,  and  clears  the  boat;   then  place 

To  great  ./Eneas  gives.      Beneath  his  weight 


238  The   Aineid. 

The  hide-patched  vessel  groans ;  its  leaky  sides 

Drink  in  the  marshy  water ;  till  at  length 

The  priestess  and  the  hero,  safe  across  51° 

The  river,  land  upon  the  slimy  mud 

And  weeds  of  dingy  green.  I   Here  Cerberus, 

Whose  triple-throated  barking  echoes  through 

These  realms,  lies  stretched  immense  across  his  den, 

Confronting  their  approach.     The  prophetess,  s^s^ 

Seeing  his  neck  now  bristling  thick  with  snakes, 

Throws  him  a  cake  of  medicated  seeds 

With  soporiferous  honey  moistened.     He 

With  rabid  hunger,  opening  his  three  throats, 

Snaps  up  the  offered  sop ;  and  on  the  ground  5*° 

His  hideous  limbs  relaxing,  sprawls,  and  lies 

Huge,  and  extended  all  along  the  cave. 

The  sentinel  thus  sunk  in  lethargy, 

JEneas  gains  the  entrance,  hastening  on 

Beyond  the  stream  whence  there  is  no  return.  5-5 

Then  as  they  entered,  voices  wild  were  heard, 
Shrieking  and  wailing,  —  souls  of  infants  robbed 
Of  all  their  share  of  life,  snatched  from  the  breast, 
And  sunk  by  gloomy  fate  in  cruel  death. 
Then  next  were  those  by  accusations  false 


Book  ri. 

Condemned  to  sutler  death.      Nor  were  their  lots 

Assigned  without  a  trial  and  a   judl 

Minos  presiding,  shakes  the  urn  :    he  calls 

The  silent  multitude,  and  learns  from  each 

The  story  of  his  life  and  crimes.      Next  come 

The  places  where  the  sad  and  guiltless  souls 

Were  seen,  who,  hating  the  warm  light  of  day, 

Wrought  their  own  death  and  threw  away  their  lives. 

How  willingly  they  now  in  the  upper  air 

Their  poverty  and  sufferings  would  endure!  540 

But  this  Heaven's  law  forbids  :   the  hateful  lake 

With  its  sad  waves  imprisons  them,  and  Stvx 

Flowing  between,  nine  times  encircling,  binds. 

Not  far  from  this  the  Fields  of  Mourning  lie 

Extended  wide  :   by  this  name  they  are  called.  545 

Here  those  whom  tyrannous  love  with  cruel  blight 

Has  wasted,  in  secluded  paths  are  hid, 

And  sheltered  round  about  by  myrtle  groves. 

Not  even  in  death  their  cares  are  left  behind. 

Here  Pha?dra  and  here  Procris  he  espies, 

And  Eriphyle  sad,  who  shows  the  wounds 

Made  by  her  cruel  son  ;   Evadne  too, 

And  Pasiphae  ;  and  along  with  these 


240  The   Aineid. 

Laodamia  goes,  and  Caenis,  once 

A  man,  now  woman,  to  her  former  sex  555 

Returned  by  fate.     Phoenician  Dido  here, 

Her  wound  still  fresh,  was  wandering  in  the  woods ; 

Whom,  as  the  Trojan  hero  nearer  came, 

And  knew  amid  the  shadows  dim,  as  one 

Who  sees,  or  thinks  he  sees,  amid  the  clouds,  560 

The  young  moon  rising,  —  tears  fell  from  his  eyes, 

And  thus  with  tones  of  tender  love  he  spoke  : 

"Ah,  Dido,  was  it  true  then,  the  report 

That  told  thy  death,  and  slain  by  thine  own  hands? 

Alas!    was  I  the  cause?     Now  by  the  stars  s65 

I  swear,  and  by  the  gods  above,  and  all 

There  is  of  faith  and  truth  below  the  earth, 

Not  willingly,  O  queen,  I  left  thy  shore. 

It  was  the  gods,  whose  mandate  sends  me  now 

To  journey  here  through  gloom  and  shade  profound,    s:° 

And  places  rank  with  hideous  mould,  who  then 

Forced  me  by  their  decree.     Nor  did  I  know 

That  my  departure  such  a  grief  to  thee 

Would  bring.     Stay  then  thy  steps,  nor  turn  away 

From  me.     Ah,  wherefore  dost  thou  shun  me  thus?      575 

'T  is  the  last  word  fate  suffers  me  to  speak !  " 

So  did  iEneas  strive  to  soothe  her  soul 


Book  ii.  241 

Inflamed,  and  aspect  stern,  while  still  he  wept. 
She  turned  away,  her  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground  ; 
Nor,  as  he  pleaded,  was  her  face  more  moved 
Than  it"  she  stood  there,  a  hard  block  oi  flint, 

Or  cold  Marpesian  marble.     Then  away 
She  hurried,  with  defiance  in  her  mien, 
And  hid  amid  the  shadows  of  the  woods. 
There,  with  Sycha?us,  her  first  spouse,  she  finds 
Responsive  sympathy  and  equal  love. 
But  none  the  less,  wrung  by  this  cruel  chance, 
iEneas  follows  her  with  tearful  eyes 
And  pitying  heart. 

Then  on  his  way  he  toils ; 
And  now  they  reached  the  farthest  fields,  a  place  59° 

Apart,  by  those  frequented  who  in  war 
Were  famous.     Tydeus  here  he  meets,  and  here 
Parthenopa?us,  well  renowned  in  arms  ; 
And  the  pale  spectre  of  Adrastus:    there, 
Trojans  in  battle  slain,  lamented  much  595 

In  upper  earth,  whom  with  a  sigh  he  sees 
In  long  array.      Glaucus  and  Medon  there 
Appear;   Thersilochus  ;   Antenor's  sons  ; 
And  Polyphoetes,  consecrated  priest 
To  Ceres  ;   and  Idieus,  holding  still 
31 


242  The  Aineid. 

His  chariot  and  his  arms.     To  right  and  left 

The  spirits  crowd  about  him,  not  content 

Merely  to  see  him,  but  they  needs  must  wait 

And  hover  round  his  steps,  and  know  what  cause 

Has  brought  him  hither.     But  the  Grecian  chiefs  605 

And  hosts  of  Agamemnon,  when  they  see 

The  hero  and  his  glittering  arms  that  flash 

Across  the  shadows,  tremble  with  great  fear. 

Some  turn  and  fly,  as  to  their  ships  of  old 

They  fled  ;  some  raise  thin  voices,  and  their  shouts         610 

Die  without  sound  within  their  gasping  throats. 

Here  Priam's  son  Deiphobus  he  sees, 

Mangled,  with  lacerated  face  and  hands, 

Ears  severed  from  his  head,  and  nostrils  gashed 

With  shameful  wounds.     Scarce  does  the  hero  know     615 

His  form,  as  cowering  he  essays  to  hide 

His  cruel  punishment.     Him  then  with  voice 

Well  known  he  addressed  :   "  Valiant  Deiphobus, 

Of  Teucer's  noble  race,  what  enemy 

Has  wrought  on  thee  this  cruel  chastisement  ?  620 

To  whom  was  this  permitted?     I  was  told 

That  thou  on  Troy's  last  night,  worn  out,  and  tired 

Of  Grecian  slaughter,  hadst  sunk  down  'mid  heaps 


Book  11. 


Of  confused  carnage.     Then  an  empty  mound 

I  raised  to  thee  upon  the  Rhu-tean  shore, 

Thrice  calling  on  thy  shade.     Thy  name  ami  arms 

Still  keep  the  place.       Hut  thee,  O  friend,  I  sought 

In  vain  ;    nor  could,  departing,  lav  thy  limbs 

Within  our  country's  earth."      To  whom  replied 

The  son  of  Priam:   "Nothing,  O  my  friend,  6jo 

Was  left  undone  by  thee  :    thou  didst  fulfil 

All  rites  of  burial  for  Deiphobus. 

My  fate  it  \\a<,  and  her  pernicious  crime  — 

That  Spartan  —  that  immersed  me  in  these  woes. 

'T  was  she  who  left  these  traces  of  herself.  635 

For  how  in  illusive  pleasures  that  last  night 

Of  Troy  was  passed  too  well  thou  canst  recall, 

When  o'er  the  steep  walls  leapt  the  fatal  horse, 

Filled  with  armed  men.      Feigning  a  sacred  dance, 

She  led  the  Phrv^ian  women  round  about, 

»v  ith  Bacchic  cries  and  orgies,  and  herselt 

Held  a  great  torch,  and  from  the  citadel 

Summoned  the  Greeks.      Me,  wearied  out  with  cares, 

And  Mink  in  sleep,  my  unhappy  chamber  held. 

Rest,  sweet  and  deep,  pressed  on  me  as  I  lay,  — 

Deep  as  the  calm  of  death.      But  she  meanwhile, 

My  incomparable  spouse,  from  out  the  house 


244 


The  Aineid. 


6;o 


6< 


55 


Removed  all  weapons,  and  my  faithful  sword 
Took  from  beneath  my  head,  and  summons  in 
Her  Menelaus,  and  opes  wide  the  doors; 
Hoping,  forsooth,  to  give  her  amorous  lord 
A  prize  of  value,  and  to  cancel  thus 
The  infamy  of  all  her  old  misdeeds. 
Why  need  I  linger?  —  Through  my  chamber  door 
They  burst ;   with  them  they  bring  iEolides, 
The  inciter  of  the  crime.  —  Ye  gods,  pay  back 
Unto  the  Greeks  such  deeds,  if  I  demand 
With  pious  lips  the  punishment!     But  thou, — 
Tell  me  what  fortune  brings  thee  here,  alive? 
Comest  thou  driven  by  wanderings  o'er  the  seas, 
Or  by  the  mandate  of  the  gods?     What  chance 
Pursues  thee,  that  to  these  sad  sunless  realms 
Of  turbid  gloom  thou  com'st  ?  "     While  thus  they  talked, 
Aurora's  car  had  passed  the  middle  arch 
Of  heaven  ;   and  they  perchance  had  lingered  out 
The  allotted  time.      But  with  brief  warning  spoke 
The  Sibyl  :    "  Night,  ^Eneas,  rushes  on, 
While  we  in  lamentation  spend  the  hours. 
1  Here  is  the  place  where  into  two  jlrvides 
Our  path  :   one  leading  to  the  right,  beneath 


670 


660 


665 


Book   1 1. 

Into  Elysium  ;  while  the  left  way  semis 

The  wicked  to  their  punishment,  and  leads 

T><  Tartarus."     Then  said  Deiphobus:  — 

"Great  priestess,  be  not  angry:    I  depart, 

Aid  will  complete  the  number  of  the  shades, 

Returning  to  the  darkness.     Thou,  our  pride 

And  glory,  pass,  pass  on,  —  to  destinies 

More  bright  than  mine!  "      Saying  this,  he  turned  and  ued. 


6So 


-^J  Then  suddenly  /Eneas  looking  back, 
Beneath  a  cliff  upon  the  left  beholds 
A  prison  vast  with  triple  ramparts  girt, 
Round  which  Tartarean  Phlegethon,  with  surge 
Of  foaming  torrents,  raves,  and  thundering  whirl 
Of  rocks.     A  gateway  huge  in  front  is  seen,  685 

With  columns  of  the  solid  adamant. 
No  strength  of  man,  or  even  of  gods,  avails 
Against  it.      Rising  in  the  air  a  tower 
Of  iron  appears  :    there  sits  Tisiphone, 
Tucked  in  her  blood-stained  robes,  and  night  and  day 
(Guarding  the  entrance  with  her  sleepless  eye^-. 
Groans  from  within  were  heard;   the  cruel  lash, 
Then  clank  of  iron,  and  of  dragging  chains. 
iEneas  stopped,  and  listened  to  the  din, 


246  The  u#ineid. 

Struck  with  dismay.     "What  forms  of  crime,"  he  said, 
"  What  punishments  are  these,  O  virgin,  say  ?  696 

What  wailings  that  assail  the  skies  ?  " 

Then  she :  — 
"  O  Trojan  chief,  pure  souls  can  never  pass 
Those  gates  accursed.     Yet  when  Hecate  gave 
To  me  the  keeping  of  the  Avernian  groves,  700 

Herself  she  showed  me  all  these  penalties 
Divine,  and  led  me  through  them  all.     Here  't  is 
That  Rhadamanthus  holds  his  sway  severe; 
He  hears  and  punishes  each  secret  fraud, 
Forcing  confession  from  the  souls  who  once  7°s 

Rejoicing  in  their  self-deceiving  guilt 
Put  off  the  atonement  to  the  hour  of  death. 
Armed  with  her  whip,  the  avenging  Fury  comes 
Scourging  the  guilty,  with  insulting  taunts; 
In  her  left  hand  she  holds  her  angry  snakes,  710 

And  calls  her  cruel  sisters.     Then  at  last 
The  accursed  portals  open  wide,  with  noise 
Of  grating  horror,  on  their  hinges  turned. 
Seest  thou  what  guard  is  seated  at  the  gates  ? 
Within,  a  Hydra  sits,  more  terrible,  7*5 

With  fifty  yawning  mouths  immense  and  black. 
Then  Tartarus  itself  sheer  downward  opes, 


Book    VL  2.}  7 

And  stretches  through  the  darkness  twice  as  far 
As  upward  heaven's  Olympian  heights  arc  seen. 
'T  is  there  Earth's  ancient  race,  the  Titan  brood, 
Hurled  down  and  blasted  by  the  thunderbolts, 

Roll  in  the  lowest  gulf.      There  have  I  seen 
The  twin  sons  of  Aloeus,  with  their  limbs 
Immense,  who  strove  the  mighty  heavens  to  spoil, 
And  from  his  realms  supernal  tear  Jove  down. 
Sal m on eus  too  I  saw  in  cruel  pains, 
For  having  dared  to  imitate  the  fires 
Of  Jove,  and  the  Olympian  thunder:   him 
Who,  drawn  by  four  steeds,  brandishing  a  torch, 
Drove  through  the  streets  of  Elis,  'mid  the  crowd  73° 

Of  Greeks,  exulting,  claiming  for  himself 
The  honors  of  the  gods.      Madman  !   to  dream 
That  din  of  brass  and  trampling  hoofs  of  steeds 
Could  counterfeit  the  inimitable  crash 
Of  storms  and  thunder.     But  the  Omnipotent  735 

Amid  the  dense  clouds  hurled  a  blazing  bolt 
No  torches  his,  nor  smoky  fires  of  pitch), 
And  in  the  tempest  smote  him  headlong  down. 
Here  too  was  Tityos  seen,  the  foster-child 
Of  the  all-nurturing  Earth  ;    his  body  stretched 
Across  nine  acres  lies;   a  vulture  huge 


248  The  sE7teid. 

With  crooked  beak  upon  his  liver  gnaws, 

Which  never  dies,  and  entrails  still  alive 

With  pain,  and  feeds  and  dwells  forever  there 

Beneath  his  heart ;  nor  finds  he  any  rest,  74s 

The  fibres  still  renewed.     Why  need  I  name 

Pirithoiis,  Ixion,  or  the  race 

Of  Lapitha?  ?     Or  those  above  whose  heads 

A  threatening  rock  seems  ever  about  to  fall, 

Or  falling?     Sumptuous  couches  near  them  shine  75° 

With  feet  of  gold,  and  banquets  rich  are  spread 

In  royal  luxury.     But  beside  them  sits 

The  queen  of  Furies,  and  forbids  to  touch 

The  food^  and  shrieking  waves  aloft  her  torch. 

Here  those  who  cherished  hatred,  during  life,  755 

Toward  their  brothers  ;  or  who  lifted  hands 

Of  violence  against  their  parents ;  those 

Who  'gainst  their  clients  schemed  and  practised  fraud; 

Or  those  who  brooded  o'er  their  hoarded  wealth, 

Selfish  and  solitary,  nor  dispensed  760 

A  portion  to  their  kin,  —  the  largest  crowd 

These  formed  ;   or  those  who  for  adulterous  crimes 

Were  slain  ;  or  fought  in  wars  unjust,  nor  feared 

To  violate  allegiance  to  their  lords : 

These  all  await  their  doom.     Seek  not  to  know  765 


Book   ii.  249 

What  doom,  or  what  the  form  of  punishment 
Allotted,  into  which  they  sink.     Some  roll 
Enormous  rocks,  or  on  the  spokes  ot  wheels 
Hang  stretched  and  bound.     Unhappy  Theseus  there 

Sits,  and  will  sit  forever.     Phlegyas  too,  77> 

Most  wretched,  speaks  to  all  with  warning  wor 
And  with  a  loud  voice  calls  amid  the  gloom  :  — 
'f'Take  heed,  learn   justice,  nor  despise  the  gods,!' 
Here  one  is  seen,  who  for  a  golden  hrihe 
His  country  sold,  and  fixed  a  despot's  throne;  77s 

And  for  a  price  made  laws,  and  then  unmade  : 
There  one  who  invaded  his  own  daughter's  bed 
In  a  forbidden  marriage.      All  had  dared 
Some  dreadful  crime,  succeeding  where  they  dared. 
Not  if  I  had  a  hundred  tongues,  a  voice  78° 

Of  iron,  could  I  tell  thee  all  the  forms 
Of  guilt,  or  number  all  their  penalties." 

So  spoke  the  aged  priestess.     "  But  come  now," 
She  cries,  "let  us  resume  our  way  with  speed, 
And  finish  the  great  task  we  have  begun.  785 

I  see  the  walls  by  Cyclops'  forges  built ; 
The  gatewfav  with  its  arch  confronts  our  view, 
Where  by  command  we  place  our  offering." 
3^ 


2SO 


The  Aineid. 


She  said;  and  through  the  paths  obscure  they  stepped 
Together,  passed  the  midway  space,  and  neared 
The  gate.     iEneas  at  the  entrance  stands, 
Fresh  lustral  water  sprinkles  o'er  his  limbs, 
And  hangs  upon  the  door  the  golden  bough. 


79° 


These  rites  performed,  the  gift  the  goddess  asks 

Being  duly  made,  they  reach  the  pleasant  realms 

Of  verdant  green,  the  blessed  groves  of  peace. 

A  larger  sky  here  robes  with  rosy  light 

The  fields,  lit  by  a  sun  and  stars,  their  own. 

Some  on  the  grassy  plots  pursue  their  games 

Of  manly  strength,  and  wrestle  on  the  sand. 

Some  in  the  dance  beat  time,  and  chant  their  hymns. 

The  Thracian  priest  with  loosely  flowing  robes 

Responds  in  numbers  to  his  seven-toned  lyre, 

And  now  with  ringers,  now  with  ivory  quill, 

He  strikes  the  chords.     Here  dwells  the  ancient  race 

Of  Teucer's  line,  a  noble  progeny, 

The  great-souled  heroes  born  in  better  years, 

II us,  Assaracus,  and  Dardanus, 

Who  founded  Troy.     iEneas  wondering  sees 

Their  arms  and  shadowy  chariots  from  afar, 

The  spears  fixed  in  the  ground,  the  horses  loose 


795 


800 


805 


810 


Book  a. 


2;  1 


Feeding  about  the  fields.     Whatever  love 

The  living  had  tor  chariots  or  for  arms, 

Or  care  of  pasturing  their  shining  steed-, 

Goes  with  them,  though  their  bodies  lie  entombed.       815 

Others  he  sees  upon  the  right  and  left 
Feasting  about  the  sward,  while  paeans  glad 

They  sing  in  choral  bands,  amid  a  grove 

Of  fragrant  laurel;   whence  Eridanus, 

The  abundant  river,  flowing  from  above,  iao 

Rolls  through  the  woodlands.      Here  the  bands  are  seen, 

Of  those  who  for  their  country  fought  and  bled; 

The  chaste  and  holy  priests ;   the  reverent  bards 

Whose  words  were  worthy  of  Apollo;   those 

Who  enriched  life  with  rine  inventive  arts;  i*$ 

And  all  who  by  deserving  deeds  had  made 

Their  names  remembered.     These  wore  garlands  all 

Of  snowy  white  upon  their  brows,  j    To  them, 

Scattered  in  groups  about,  the  Sibyl  spoke; 

And  chiefly  to  Musasus;   in  the  midst  is« 

He  stood,  and  with  his  lofty  shoulders  towered 

Above  them  all,  admiring.      "Happy  souls," 

She  said,  "and  thou,  O  best  of  poets,  say 

What  region  and  what  spot  Anchises  makes 

His  home.      For  him  we  have  come  to  seek,  and  crossed 


252  The   Aineid. 

The  rivers  wide  of  Erebus."     Then  answered  836 

Briefly  the  noble  bard  :   "  No  fixed  abode 

Is  ours;  we  dwell  amid  the  shady  groves; 

The  river-banks  our  couches;  —  and  we  haunt 

The  meadows  fresh  with  running  rivulets.  840 

But  you,  if  such  be  your  desire,  pass  o'er 

This  hill.     I  will  point  out  an  easy  path." 

He  said  ;  and  leading  on,  he  from  above 

Showed  them  the  shining  fields.     They  from  the  top 

Move  downward  on  their  way. 

Anchises  there,  845 

Down  in  a  valley  green,  was  noting  all 
The  souls  shut  in,  destined  one  day  to  pass 
Into  the  upper  light,  and  rapt  in  thought 
He  mused  thereon.      It  chanced,  his  future  race 
He  was  reviewing  there,  descendants  dear,  850 

And  all  their  line,  —  their  fates  and  fortunes  all, — 
Their  characters,  their  future  deeds,  unborn. 
He,  when  he  saw  iEneas  o'er  the  grass 
Coming  to  meet  him,  stretched  his  eager  hands, 
His  cheeks  bedewed  with  tears,  and  from  his  lips  85S 

These  accents  fell :   "  And  art  thou  come  at  last  ? 
That  filial  love  I  counted  on  so  long, 
Has  it  now  overcome  the  arduous  road  ? 


Book    ri.  253 


My  son,  is  't  granted  me  to  sec  thy  face, 

And  hear  thv  well-known  voice,  and  answer  thee?  860 

Thus  in  my  mind  I  hoped  and  guessed,  indeed, 

And  numbered  o'er  the  intervening  times. 

Nor  have  my  anxious  wishes  been  deceived. 

What  lands,  what  seas  thou  hast  traversed,  O  my  son  ! 

Amid  what  dangers  thou  wert  tossed  about!  865 

What  harm  from  Lybian  realms  I  feared  for  thee!" 

./Eneas  then  :   "  O  father,  many  a  time 

Thy  shade,  thy  sad-eyed  shade,  has  met  my  gaze, 

And  urged  me  to  this  place  to  bend  my  steps. 

Within  the  Tyrrhene  sea  my  fleet  is  moored.  870 

Grasp  now  my  hand,  my  father,  grasp  my  hand 

In  thine;   withdraw  not  from  thy  son's  embrace!" 

So  speaking,  down  his  face  the  great  tears  streamed. 

Thrice  round  his  neck  he  strove  to  throw  his  arms; 

And  thrice  the  shadow  flitted  from  his  grasp, 

And  vanished  like  a  winged  dream  away. 

Meanwhile  ./Eneas  in  a  valley  deep 
Sees  a  secluded  grove,  with  rustling  leaves 
And  branches;   there  the  river  Lethe  glides 
Past  many  a  tranquil  home;  and  round  about 
Innumerable  tribes  and  nations  flit. 


254  The   sEneid. 

As  in  the  meadows  in  the  summer-time 

The  bees  besiege  the  various  flowers,  and  swarm 

About  the  snow-white  lilies ;   and  the  field 

Is  filled  with  murmurings  soft.     The  sudden  view  8s5 

Startles  him,  and  he  asks  what  this  may  mean  ; 

What  rivers  those  may  be  that  flow  beyond  ; 

And  who  this  multitude  that  crowds  the  banks. 

Anchises  then  replies:   "These  souls,  by  fate 

Destined  for  other  bodies,  drink  safe  draughts  890 

At  Lethe's  waters,  and  oblivion-deep 

And  lasting.     Long_since  have  I  wished,  in  truth, 

To  speak  of  them  to  thee,  and  show  thee  all 

This  line  of  my  descendants,  so  thou  mayst 

Rejoice  with  me,  now  Italy  is  reached."  895 

"O  father,  can  we  think  that  from  this  place 

Any  exalted  souls  to  upper  skies 

Return  to  enter  sluggish  frames  again  ? 

Why  so  intensely  do  these  hapless  ones 

Long  for  the  light  ?  "     "  My  son,"  Anchises  said,  9°° 

"  No  further  will  I  hold  thee  in  suspense, 

But  tell  thee  all."     Then  thus  in  order  due 

He  to  his  mind  unfolds  each  mystery  :  — 

"Know  first,  the  heavens,  the  earth,  the  flowing  sea, 


Book  ii. 


?55 


The  moon's  bright  globe,  and  the  Titanian  stars 
By  onejjjterior  spirit  are  sustained  : 
Thrjguj^i_alljtheir  members  interfused,  a  mind 
Quickens  the  mass  entire,,  and  mingliriLr  stirs 

The  mighty_jhame».     Thence  springs  the  life  of  men, 

And  grazing  flocks,  and  Hying  birds,  and  all 

The  strange  shapes  in  the  deep  and  shining  sea. 

A  fiery  vigor  animates  these  germs, 

And  a  celestial  origin,  so  far 

As  our  gross  bodies  clog  them  not,  nor  weight 

Of  perishable  limbs  impedes  the  soul. 

Hence  they  desire  and  fear,  rejoice  and  grieve; 

And,  shut  in  prisons  dark,  they  look  not  back 

Upon  the  skies.     Nor  e'en  when  life's  last  ray 

Has  fled,  does  every  ill  depart,  nor  all 

Corporeal  taints  quite  leave  their  unhappy  frames. 

And  needs  must  be  that  many  a  hardened  fault 

Inheres  in  wondrous  ways.//  Therefore  the  pains 

Of^unishrqej^-Ui£y-_uiidergOt  for  sins 

Of  former  times.     Some  in  the  winds  are  hung 

Suspended  and  exposed.     Others  beneath 

A  waste  of  waters  from  their  guilt  are  cleansed, 

Or  purified  by  fire.     We  all  endure 

Our  ghostly  retribution.     Thence,  a  few 


910 


9'5 


910 


9*5 


256  The  ^Eneid. 

Attain  the  free  Elysium's  happy  fields, 

Till  Time's  great  cycle  of  long  years  complete,  9?° 

Clears  the  fixed  taint,  and  leaves  the  ethereal  sense 

Pure,  a  bright  flame  of  unmixed  heavenly  air. 

All  these,  when  for  a  thousand  years  the  wheel 

Of  fate  has  turned,  the  Deity  calls  forth 

To  Lethe's  stream,  a  mighty  multitude;  93s 

That  they,  forgetful  of  the  past,  may  see 

Once  more  the  vaulted  sky,  and  may  begin 

To  wish  return  into  corporeal  frames." 

Thus  spoke  Anchises;  and  leads  on  his  son, 

Together  with  the  Sibyl,  through  the  throng  940 

Of  murmuring  spirits.     On  a  rising  ground 

He  stands,  whence,  opposite,  in  long  array, 

He  may  discern  each  face  as  it  approached. 


"  Hear  now  what  fame  henceforward  shall  attend 

The  Dardan  race,  and  what  posterity  94s 

From  Italy  shall  come,  illustrious  souls, 

And  who  they  are  succeeding  to  our  name  ; 

This  will  I  show,  and  thy  own  fates  foretell. 

Seest  thou  that  youth  who  on  a  headless  spear 

Is  leaning?     Nearest  to  the  light  he  stands.  95° 

By^  fate ;  the  first  to  ascend  to  upper  air. 


Book    ri.  257 

Born  oi    Italian  blood  commixed  with  ours, 

Thy  last-born  child,  Silvius,  an  Alban  name, 

Whom  to  thee  late  in  life  Lavinia 

Thy  spouse  shall  bear,  amid  the  sylvan  shades;  95s 

A  king,  and  parent  too  oi    kings,  —  from  whom 

Our  race  shall  rule  in  Alba  Longa.     Next 

Comes  Procas,  glory  of  the  Trojan  race; 

And  Capys  next,  and  Numitor,  and  he, 

Silvius  ./Eneas,  who  restores  thy  name,  960 

In  piety  and  arms  alike  renowned, 

If  e'er  he  reigns  o'er  Alba.     See,  what  youths! 

What  strength   they  show!     But  they  whose  brows  are 

shaded 
With  civic  oak,  those  shall  for  thee  build  up 
Xomentum,  Gabii,  and  Fidena's  walls;  965 

These  found  Collatia's  mountain  citadels, 
Pometia,  and  the  camp  of  Inuus, 
Bela,  and  Cora  ;   so  they  shall  be  called, 
Now  lands  without  a  name.   »Then  next  appears 
Mavortian  Romulus,  who  joins  the  cause  970 

Of  his  grandsire,  —  the  son  of  Ilia,  born 
Of  Trojan  blood.      Seest  thou  the  double  crest 
Upon  his  head,  the  sign  his  father  gives 
Of  his  celestial  destiny  ?     Behold, 

33 


258  The  Aineid. 

My  son,  beneath  his  auspices  shall  Rome  975 

Match  her  great  empire  with  the  expanse  of  earth, 

Her  genius  with  Olympian  heights.     Alone 

She  will  engird  her  seven  hills  with  a  wall, 

Blest  with  a  progeny  of  valiant  men. 

So  doth  the  Berecynthian  Mother  ride  9S0 

Upon  her  car  through  Phrygian  cities,  crowned 

With  turrets,  joyful  in  the  birth  of  gods, 

Circling  a  hundred  grandsons  with  her  arms, 

All  gods,  all  tenants  of  the  upper  realms. 


990 


Now  turn  thine  eyes,  and  look  upon  this  race,  98s 

Thy  Romans.     This  is  Caesar,  this  the  line 
Born  of  lulus,  destined  to  appear 
Beneath  the  arch  of  heaven.     This,  this  is  he, 
Whom  thou  hast  heard  foretold  and  promised  oft, 
Augustus  Caesar,  of  a  race  divine. 
The  golden  age  in  Latium  he  shall  bring 
Again,  to  fields  where  Saturn  reigned  of  old. 
O'er  Garamantian  climes  and  realms  of  Ind 
His  empire  shall  extend.     Beyond  the  stars 
His  land  shall  reach,  beyond  the  solar  ways, 
Where  heaven-bearing  Atlas  on  his  shoulder  turns 
The  constellated  axis  of  the  sky. 


S95 


Book    VL 

n  now,  before  his  coming,  the  far  realms 
{)(  Caspia  and  Maeotia  shuddering  hear 

The  oracles  divine,  and  Nile's  seven  mouths  1000 

Are  troubled.      Nor  indeed  did   Here;, 

Traverse  siieh  lengths  of  land,  although  he  chased 

Ami  pierced  the  brazen-footed  hind,  and  calmed 

The  Erymanthian  woods,  and  Lerna  quailed 

Before  his  deadly  how.     Nor  farther  rode 

Bacchus  in  victory,  who  from  the  top 

OF  Nysa  urged  his  tigers  and  his  car, 

I  lis  reins  with  vine-leaves  wreathed.      And  shall  we  doubt 

To  extend  our  glory  by  our  deeds  ?   or  fear 

To  "plant  ourselves  upon  the  Ausonian  land?  ioio 

"  But  who  is  he,  far  off,  with  olive  crown 

Distinguished,  bearing  in  his  hands  the  signs 

Of  priesthood  ?     Now  I  can  discern  the  locks 

And  hoary  beard  of  him,  the  Roman  king 

Who  first  shall  give  the  city  'stablished  laws, 

From  Cures'  petty  state  and  humble  land 

Sent  to  a  mighty  empire.      Next  comes  he, — 

Disturber  of  his  country's  long  repose, 

Tullus,  who  shall  arouse  to  warlike  deeds 

His  slothful  subjects,  and  the  troops  unused  i 


.  260  The  ^Eneid. 

To  triumphs.     Following  him,  comes  boastful  Ancus, 

E'en  now  too  glad  to  court  the  crowd's  applause. 

And  wouldst  thou  look  upon  the  Tarquin  kings, 

And  the  avenger  Brutus'  haughty  soul, 

And  the  recovered  fasces?     He  the  first,  1025 

The  rights  of  consular  command  shall  take, 

And  the  relentless  axe  and  rods  assume;.. 

And  his  own  sons  conspiring  in  fresh  wars, 

He,  for  their  treason  to  fair  liberty, 

Shall  summon  to  their  death  ;   unhappy  sire!  1030 

However  after  times  shall  view  these  deeds, 

His  love  of  country  and  his  large  desire 

Of  praise  shall  conquer.     At  a  distance  now 

The  Decii  come,  and  Drusus  and  his  line; 

And  stern  Torquatus  with  his  axe,  behold  ;  1035 

Camillus  too,  the  standards  bearing  back. 

But  those  who  shining  now  in  equal  arms 

Thou  seest,  accordant  souls,  while  in  these  shades 

They  dwell, — alas,  what  wars  between  the  two, 

Should  they  attain  to  life,  —  what  carnage  dire!  1040 

The  father-in-law  descending  from  the  Alps 

And  from  Moncecus'  tower;   the  son-in-law 

Furnished  with  forces  from  the  Eastern  lands, 

Opposing  comes.     O  sons,  indulge  not  minds 


Book  //. 

I'  >r  wars  like  these,  nor  'gainst  your  country's  life  104s 

Direct  Mich  valor;    ami  thou  first  forbear,  — 

Thou  who  thy  lineage  from  Olympus  hast  — 

My  own  blood,  —  cast  the  weapons  from  thy  hand  I 

i)nc  up  the  lofty  Capitol  shall  drive 

His  car  in  triumph  from  Corinthian  wars  1050 

Ami  Grecians  slain;    the  other  shall  o'erthrow 

Mycenae,  pride  of  Agamemnon's  race, 

And  e'en  /Eacides  himself,  a  son 

Of  great  Achilles'  line,  avenging  thus 

His  Trojan  sires,  and  Pallas'  shrines  profaned.  1055 

M  Who,  mighty  Cato,  leaves  thy  name  unsaid  ; 
Or  thee,  O  Cossus  ?     Who  the  Gracchi  slights  ? 
Or  the  two  Scipios,  thunderbolts  of  war, 
And  Lybia's  scourge  ?      Fabricius,  powerful 
With  slender  means?     Serranus,  bending  o'er  1060 

His  turrow  ?     ,And  ye  Fabii,  say  how  far 
W  ill  ye  transport  my  weary  feet  ?     Thou  art 
Our  Maximus,  who  alone  restor'st  to  us 
Our  fortunes  by  delay.      Others,  I  ween, 
Shall  mould,  more  delicately,  forms  of  bronze,  1065 

Lifelike,  and  shape  the  human  face  in  stone; 
Plead  causefi  with  more  skill,  describe  the  paths 
Of   heavenly  orbs,  and  note  the  rising  stars. 


262  The   Aineid. 

But  thou,  O  Roman,  bend  thy  mind  to  rule 

With  strength  thy  people.     This  shall  be  thy  art ;         1070 

And  to  impose  the  terms  and  rules  of  peace; 

To  spare  the  vanquished,  and  subdue  the  proud." 

So  spoke  Anchises,  while  they  wondering  stood  ; 
And  then  resumes:   "See  where  Marcellus  moves, 
Glorious  with  his  triumphal  spoils,  and  towers  1075 

O'er  all,  a  victor.     He  the  Roman  state 
Shall  keep  from  tottering,  in  tumultuous  days. 
He,  armed  and  horsed,  shall  overthrow  the  power 
.  Of  Carthaginia  and  rebellious  Gaul ; 
And  the  third  captured  trophy  shall  hang  up,  1080 

An  offering  to  his  father  Romulus." 

But  here  i^Eneas  spoke:  for  now  he  saw 

Beside  the  hero,  clad  in  glittering  arms, 

A  youth  in  form  and  face  exceeding  fair ; 

But  sad  his  brow,  with  joyless  eyes  cast  down  ;  —         ic8S 

"  O  father,  who  is  he  who  there  attends 

The  hero's  steps  ?     His  son,  or  some  one  else 

Of  his  illustrious  line  descended?      Hark, 

What  murmuring  sounds  surround  him  as  he  moves! 

How  noble  is  his  mien!     But  gloomy  Night  1090 


Book  ri.  263 

With  shadows  sad  is  hovering  round  his  head." 
To  whom  Anchises,  weeping  floods  of  tears, 

Made  answer:    "O  my  son,  seek  not  to  know 

The  heavy  sorrows  of  thy  race!     This  youth 

The  Fates  will  only  show  a  little  while  > 

Oil  earth,  nor  will  permit  a  longer  stay. 

Too  potent  would  the  Roman  race  have  seemed 

To  you,  ye  gods,  had  such  gifts  been  our  own. 

What  groans  of  heroes  from  that  field  shall  rise, 

Near  Mars,  his  mighty  city!  or  what  gloom  noo 

Of  funeral  pomp  shalt  thou,  O  Tiber,  see, 

When  gliding  by  his  new-raised  mound  of  death  ! 

No  youth  of  Ilian  race  shall  ever  lift 

To  such  great  heights  of  hope  the  Latian  sires; 

Nor  Rome  shall  boast  henceforth  so  dear  a  child.  1105 

Alas  for  virtue  and  the  ancient  faith  ! 

Alas,  the  strong  hands  unsubdued  in  war! 

No  enemy  could  ever  have  opposed 

His  sword  unscathed,  whether  on  foot  he  charged, 

Or  spurred  his  foaming  steed  against  the  foe.  mo 

Ah,  dear  lamented  boy,  canst  thou  but  break 

The  stern  decrees  of  fate,  then  wilt  thou  be 

Our  own  Marcellus!  —  Give  me  lilies,  brought 

In  heaping  handfuls.      Let  me  scatter  here 


264  The  Aineid. 

Dark  purple  flowers ;   these  offerings  at  least  "■; 

To  my  descendant's  shade  I  fain  would  pay, 
Though  now,  alas,  an  unavailing  rite." 

Through  the  whole  region  thus  they  roam  along 

Amid  wide  fields  of  unsubstantial  air, 

Surveying  all.     And  when  Anchises  thus  n*° 

Had  led  his  son  through  each,  and  had  inflamed 

His  mind  with  strong  desire  of  future  fame, 

He  tells  him  of  the  wars  that  would  be  waged  ; 

The  city  of  Latinus,  and  the  lands 

Of  the  Laurentian  tribes;  and  how  to  bear,  "25 

How  shun,  the  hardships  of  his  future  lot. 

Sleep  hath  two  gates :   one;  said  to  be  of  horn, 

To  real  visions  easy  exit  gives; 

The  other,  of  white  polished  ivory, 

Through  which  the  Manes  send  false  dreams  to  earth. 

Anchises,  having  thus  addressed  his  son,  1131 

Together  with  the  Sibyl,  leads  them  on, 

And  through  the  ivory  gate  dismisses  them. 

Back  to  his  ships  the  chief  pursues  his  way; 

Again  beholds  his  comrades;   then  sets  sail  "35 

Toward  Caieta's  port.     The  anchors  now 

Hang  from  the  prows  :   the  sterns  stand  on  the  beach. 


BOOK    VII. 

r  I  "IIOU  also  to  our  shores,  ^Eneas'  nurse, 

Caieta,  dying,  gav'st  eternal  fame; 
And  still  even  now  thy  honored  memory  keeps 
Its  fixed  abode;   thy  name  still  marks  the  spot 
Where  great  Hesperia  wraps  thy  bones,  —  if  aught  s 

Ox   glory  that  may  be.      ,/Eneas  now, 
All  obsequies  performed,  the  funeral  mound 
Heaped  up,  when  seas  grew  calm,  sets  sail  and  leaves 
The  port.     As  night  comes  on,  the  breeze  blows  fresh, 
N  >r  does  the  clear  white  Moon  oppose  his  course,  10 

Flashing  with  tremulous  splendor  on  the  sea. 

They  skirt  the  nearest  shores  to  Circe's  land, 
Where  she,  the  sumptuous  daughter  of  the  Sun, 
Fills  her  secluded  forests  with  the  sounds 
Of  her  assiduous  singing,  while  within  is 

Her  palace  proud  the  fragrant  cedar  burns, 
Her  nightly  torch;   and  through  her  gauzy  web 
34 


266  The   ALneid. 

The  whistling  shuttle  runs.     Here,  late  at  night, 

The  roar  of  angry  lions  in  the  dark 

Chafing  against  their  prison  bars,  was  heard ;  to 

And  bristly  boars  and  raging  bears,  pent  up, 

And  howling  wolves  of  size  immense.     All  these, 

From  human  shapes,  by  means  of  potent  herbs, 

The  cruel  goddess  Circe  had  transformed 

To  faces  and  to  bodies  of  wild  beasts.  25 

Then,  lest  the  pious  Trojans  should  endure 

Such  monstrous  fate,  when  brought  into  the  port, 

Nor  touch  a  coast  so  dreadful,  Neptune  filled 

Their  sails  with  favoring  winds,  to  aid  their  flight, 

And  wafted  them  beyond  the  boiling  shoals.  30 

The  sea  was  flushing  in  the  morning's  rays, 

And  from  the  ethereal  heights  Aurora's  car 

With  rose  and  saffron  gleamed ;  when  suddenly 

The  winds  were  stilled,  and  every  breath  of  air, 

And  the  oars  struggled  through  the  sluggish  sea.  35 

And  here  ^neas  from  the  deep  descries 

A  spacious  grove.     Through  this  the  Tiber  pours 

His  smiling  waves  along,  with  rapid  whirls, 

And  yellow  sand,  and  bursts  into  the  sea. 

And  all  around  and  overhead  were  birds  40 


Book   in.  267 

Of  various  hues,  accustomed  to  the  banks 
And  river-bed ;  from  tree  to  tree  they  flew, 
Soothing  the  air  with  songs.      Then  to  the  land 

lie  bids  the  crews  direct  the  vessels'  prows, 

And   joyfully  the  shadowy  river  gains.  45 

Come  now,  O  Erato,  while  I  relate 

Who  were  the  kings,  what  posture  of  affairs, 

And  what  the  state  of  ancient  Latium  was, 

When  first  the  stranger  army  brought  the  fleet 

To  the  Ausonian  shores  ;  and  the  first  feuds  s3 

Recall.     Thou,  goddess,  now  instruct  thy  bard. 

Of  direful  wars  and  battles  I  shall  sing  ; 

Of  kings  by  anger  spurred  to  bloody'deaths ; 

And  of  the  Tuscan  warriors,  and  of  all 

Hesperia  roused  to  arms.     A  loftier  range  55 

Of  great  events,  a  weightier  task  is  mine. 

Latin  us,  now  an  aged  king,  was  reigning 

With  long  and  peaceful  sway,  o'er  fields  and  towns; 

Said  to  be  born  of  Faunus  and  the  nymph 

Laurentian,  Marica.      Faunus'  sire 

Was  Picus,  who  from  Saturn  traced  his  birth, 


268  *  The   Aineid. 

Remotest  author  of  his  race.     No  son 

Was  his,  so  fate  decreed.     In  early  youth, 

Just  budding  into  life,  this  progeny 

Was  snatched  away.     One  daughter  only  kept  65 

His  line  alive,  heir  to  his  ample  realms; 

Mature  for  marriage  now,  in  maiden  bloom. 

From  Latium  and  from  all  the  Ausonian  lands 

Many  had  sought  her ;  comelier  far  than  all, 

Turnus,  for  noble  ancestors  renowned.;  70 

Whom  the  queen  sought  with  zealous  love  to  make 

Her  son-in-law  ;  but  portents  of  the  gods, 

With  various  omens  of  great  dread,  opposed. 

Deeply  secluded  in  the  palace  court 
There  stood  a  laurel-tree  with  sacred  crest,  75 

Preserved  for  many  a  year  with  pious  awe, 
Found,  it  was  said,  when  first  Latinus  built 
His  citadels,  and  consecrated  then 
To  Phoebus;  whence  the  inhabitants  derived 
Their  name  Laurentes.     To  its  top  —  strange  sight  — 
There  flew  a  dense  and  sudden  swarm  of  bees 
With  loud  and  humming  noise  across  the  air, 
And,  clinging  each  to  each,  hung  from  the  boughs. 
"  A  foreign  hero  comes,"  the  seer  exclaimed  ; 
"  A  host  from  yon  same  quarter  whence  these  bees, 


So 


Book     I'll. 
And  seeking  the  same  place,  whence  they  will  rule 

Our  topmost  citadel." 

Then  u  beside 
Her  sire  the  maid  Lavinia,  standing,  feeds 

The  altars  with  the  consecrated  brands, — 

Dread  omen,  her  long  tresses  seemed  to  catch  90 

The  Maze,  and  all  her  robes  with  crackling  tlamcs 

To  kindle,  through  her  regal  hair,  and  crown 

Splendid  with    jewels,  —  then  involved  in  smoke 

And  glare  to  spread  the  fire  through  all  the  house. 

A  terrible  and  wondrous  sight  't  was  deemed  ;  9s 

For  she  herself,  they  prophesied,  would  prove 

Illustrious  in  her  fame  and  in  her  fates, 

While  to  the  people  it  portended  war. 

Alarmed  at  prodigies  like  these,  the  king 

To  the  oracle  of  his  prophetic  sire  »°o 

Faunus  repairs,  and  there  consults  the  groves 

That  lie  below  the  deep  Alhunea, 

W  hich,  greatest  of  the  forest  streams,  resounds 

W  ith  sacred  fountain,  darkly  hid,  and  breathes 

Mephitic  fumes.      Hither  the  Italian  tribes  1 

And  all  the  CEnotrian  land  responses  seek 

Amid  their  doubts;   here,  when  the  priest  has  brought 


270  The   Aineid. 

His  offerings,  and  beneath  the  silent  night 

On  woolly  skins  of  sheep  reclined,  hath  sought 

For  sleep,  he  many  a  wondrous  phantasm  sees  "° 

Flitting  about,  and  many  a  voice  he  hears, 

And  talks  with  shapes  divine,  and  converse  holds 

With  Acheron,  in  the  deep  Avernian  shades. 

And  here  the  sire  Latinus,  when  he  seeks 

An  answer,  slays  a  hundred  fleecy  lambs,  "5 

And  on  their  wool  lies  stretched.     Sudden,  a  voice 

From  the  deep  grove  he  hears  :   "  O  son,  seek  not 

To  wed  thy  daughter  to  a  Latian  prince, 

Nor  trust  in  bridal  chambers  all  prepared. 

A  foreigner  comes,  thy  future  son-in-law,  no 

Whose  blood  shall  lift  our  name  unto  the  stars; 

Whose  progeny  shall  see  beneath  their  feet 

All  lands  subdued  and  governed,  wheresoe'er 

The  ocean  greets  the  risen  or  setting  sun." 

These  answers  of  his  sire,  and  warnings  given  1*5 

In  the  still  night,  Latinus  does  not  hide; 

But  Rumor  now  flying  far  and  wide  around 

Among  the  Ausonian  cities  bore  the  words, 

When  to  the  Tiber's  grassy  river-bank 

The  sons  of  Troy  had  moored  their  fleet. 

And  now     no 


B  i '  k  i  u. 

Tnc.i>,  fair  lulus,  and  tlu-  chie 
Under  the  branches  of  a  tall  tree  Btretched 
Their  limbs,  arranged  the  banquet,  and  beneath 
Their  viands,  on  the  grass,  placed  wheaten  cal 
1  >ve  so  disposed  their  thought),  and  on  this  1 
0    Ceres'  gifts,  wild  fruits  were  heaped.     It  chanci 
All  else  being  eaten,  here  their  scant  supply 
Forced  them  upon  their  slender  biscuit  store 
To  turn  their  appetites,  and  violate 

With  daring  hand  and  hungry  tooth  the  di  140 

Of  fated  bread,  nor  spare  their  ample  squares. 
"What!   are  we  eating  up  our  tables  too?" 
lulus  cried,  nor  further  led  the  jest. 
That  word  dispelled  their  cares.      His  father  caught 
The  meaning  from  the  speaker's  lips,  amazed  >45 

At  its  divine  significance,  and  mused 
Awhile  thereon;   then  suddenly  exclaimed:  — 
"  Hail,  land  for  me  predestined  by  the  fates! 
And  you,  ye  true  Penates  of  our  Troy, 
Hail  !      Here  our  home,  and  here  our  country  li( 
For  now  I  do  recall  to  mind,  my  sire 
Anchises  told  this  secret  of  the  fates: 
'When,  O  my  son,  driven  upon  unknown  shoi 
Your  food  exhausted,  ye  are  forced  to  eat 


272  The   u^ELneid. 

Your  tables  in  your  hunger,  weary  and  worn,  15s 

Remember  then  to  hope  a  steadfast  home, 

And  found  your  walls,  and  build  a  rampart  round.' 

This  was  that  hunger;   this  remained,  the  last, 

Ending  our  sufferings.      Come  then,  and  blithe 

Of  heart,  soon  as  to-morrow's  sun  shall  rise,  160 

Let  us  find  out  by  different  ways  what  men 

Inhabit  here,  and  where  their  cities  stand. 

Now  pour  your  cups  to  Jove,  and  call  upon 

Anchises,  and  replace  the  festal  wine." 

Thus  having  spoken,  with  a  leafy  branch  165 

He  wreathes  his  brows,  the  Genius  of  the  place 

Invokes,  and  Tellus,  first  of  gods,  —  the  Nymphs 

And  Rivers  yet  unknown  ;  then  Night,  and  all 

Night's  orient  stars,  Idasan  Jove,  and  next 

The  Phrygian  Mother,  and  his  parents  twain  170 

In  heaven,  and  in  the  shades  of  Erebus. 

Here  the  Omnipotent  Father  in  the  heights 

Thrice  thundered,  and  displayed  a  cloud  that  burned 

With  light  and  gold,  and  waved  it  in  his  hand 

Before  them.      Suddenly  the  rumor  spread  175 

Among  the  Trojan  bands,  that  now  the  day 

Had  come  when  they  should  found  their  destined  walls. 


Book  i  u.  273 

With  emulation  they  renew  the  feast, 

Rejoicing  in  the  mighty  (.mien  given, 

And  set  the  bowls,  and  crown  the  wine  with  flowers.     18° 

Soon  as  the  early  morning  lit  the  earth, 
The  city  and  the  confines  and  the  coast 
By  different  ways  they  explore,  discovering  here 
The  waters  of  Numicius'  spring,  and  here 
The  river  Tiber,  and  the  towns  where  dwelt  18s 

The  hardy  Latins.      Then  y£neas  sends 
A  hundred  envoys,  chosen  from  all  ranks, 
To  the  king's  city,  —  bearing  in  their  hands 
Branches  of  Pallas'  olive-tree,  enwreathed 
With  fillets,  —  charged  with  gifts,  and  overtures  19° 

Of  peace.      Without  delay  they  haste  to  do 
Their  errand,  with  Meet  steps;    while  he  himself 
Marks  out  a  rude  trench  where  a  wall  shall  be, 
And  builds  upon  the  spot,  and  girds  about 
His  first  seat  on  these  shores,  with  palisade  195 

And  rampart,  in  the  fashion  of  a  camp. 

And  now,  their  journey  o'er,  the  warriors  see 
The  Latins'  lofty  houses  and  their  towers, 
And  pass  beneath  the  wall.      Before  the  gates 
35 


274  The   sEneid. 

Were  boys  and  youths  in  the  first  flower  of  life,  200 

Riding  their  steeds,  or  taming  them  to  draw 

The  chariot  on  the  dusty  course  ;   and  some 

Were  bending  the  stout  bow,  or  hurling  spears, 

Or  challenging  each  other  to  the  race 

Or  cestus  :  when  a  mounted  messenger  205 

Appears,  who  to  the  aged  king  brings  word 

That  men  of  mighty  stature  and  strange  garb 

Approach.     The  king  commands  them  to  be  called 

Into  his  palace,  and  there  takes  his  seat 

On  his  ancestral  throne. 

An  edifice  no 

Of  stately  form  and  spacious  size  there  stood, 
Upon  the  city's  summit,  lifting  up 
A  hundred  columns,  once  the  royal  seat 
Of  Picus,  shadowed  round  with  solemn  trees, 
And  the  religion  of  ancestral  times.  215 

Here,  to  receive  the  sceptre  and  to  raise 
The  first  signs  of  their  royal  sway,  was  deemed 
By  kings  an  omen  that  betokened  good. 
This  was  their  senate  house;   here  sacred  feasts 
Were  held,  when,  having  sacrificed  a  ram,  "° 

The  fathers  at  the  extended  tables  sat. 
Here  statues  of  their  ancestors  were  ranged, 


Book   ni.  275 

Of  ancient  cedar  carved  ;  here  [talus, 

Father  Sabinus,  planter  o\'  the  vine, 

With  crooked  pruning-knife,  ami  Saturn  old,  us 

And  fan  us,  double-faced,  —  all  stood  within 
The  vestibule;   and  other  kings  of  old, 

Who,  fighting  for  their  country,  suffered  wounds. 

And  here,  upon  the  sacred  pillars  hung 

Armor  and  captive  chariots,  and  the  keen 

Curved  battle-axe,  and  flowing  helmet-crests, 

And  mighty  bars  of  city  gates,  and  spears 

And  shields,  and  beaks  of  ships,  torn  off". 

Here  too,  his  augur's  wand  held  in  his  hand, 

And  girt  with  scanty  garment  of  the  seer,  »3S 

A  shield  upon  his  arm,  Picus  himself, 

Tamer  of  horses,  sat ;   whom  Circe  once, 

Enamored,  changed,  with  touch  of  golden  wand 

And  charms  of  magic  herbs,  into  a  bird, 

And  sprinkled  colors  on  his  wings. 

Within  mo 

This  sacred  place  Latinus  takes  his  seat 
On  his  forefathers'  throne,  and  summons  in 
The  Trojans  ;   and  they,  having  entered,  thus 
W  ith  tranquil  mien  he  speaks:   "Say,  Dardan  chiefs, 
For  you  to  us  are  not  unknown,  —  your  race, 


276  The   JEneid. 

Your  city,  and  your  voyage  o'er  the  deep,  — 

What  seek  ye  here?     What  cause,  what  urgent  need 

Across  such  breadths  of  azure  seas  has  borne 

Your  ships,  and  brought  you  to  the  Ausonian  shores? 

If  by  some  error  in  your  course,  or  driven  *53 

By  tempests,  such  as  sailors  oft  endure 

Upon  the  ocean,  ye  have  entered  here 

Our  river-banks,  to  settle  in  our  ports, 

Then  do  not  shun  our  hospitality, 

But  know  the  Latins  to  be  Saturn's  race,  »ss 

Not  by  constraint  of  bonds  or  laws  kept  just, 

But  in  the  fashion  of  the  ancient  god 

Holding  their  faith  and  honor  by  free  will. 

And  I  indeed  a  legend  do  recall 

To  mind,  obscured  somewhat  by  lapse  of  years,  260 

Told  by  Auruncans  old,  that  from  these  lands 

Came  Dardanus,  and  the  Ida?an  cities  reached 

Of  Phrygia,  and  the  Thracian  Samos,  now 

Called  Samothrace.      He,  leaving  Corythus, 

Now  in  the  starry  courts  of  heaven  is  throned,  ^5 

And  adds  another  altar  to  the  gods." 

He  said  ;   and  Tlioneus  thus  replied :  — 
"  O  king,  of  Faunus  the  illustrious  son, 


Book   in.  277 

We  conic  not  to  your  shores  bv  tempests  driven, 
\  >r  from  our  cour.se  direct  has  any  star  *7<> 

Nor  any  coast  misled  us.     Wc  have  all, 
With  purpose  fixed,  and  of  our  Own  free  will, 
Come  to  your  city,  driven  out  from  realms 
The  mightiest  once  the  sun  in  all  his  course 
Beheld.      From  Jove  our  origin  ;   in  Jove  275 

Their  ancestor  the  Dardan  youth  rejoice. 
Our  king  himself,  Trojan  ^neas,  born 
Of  that  high  race,  has  sent  us  to  your  gates. 
How  great  a  storm,  outpoured  by  ruthless  Greeks 
On  the  Idaean  plains,  —  by  what  fates  driven,  *so 

Europe  and  Asia  clashed,  e'en  he  has  heard 
It  such  there  be)  who  in  the  extremest  lands 
Ot  earth,  by  circling  ocean  sundered  far 
From  all  his  kind,  or  in  the  midmost  heats 
Or  scorching  suns,  is  shut  from  other  zones.  **s 

Swept  by  that  deluge  over  seas  so  vast, 
Some  small  abode  for  our  country's  gods  we  ask, 
Some  inoffensive  shore,  and  what  stands  free 
To  all,  the  waves  and  air.      We  shall  not  bring 
Dishonor  to  your  realm;   nor  lightly  esteemed  »9° 

Shall  be  your  fame,  nor  for  such  favor  done 
Our  grateful  feelings  ever  be  erraced. 


278  The   sEneid. 

Nor  shall  the  Ausonians  ever  grieve  that  Troy 

Was  taken  to  their  lap.     By  iEneas'  fates 

I  swear,  and  by  his  strong  right  hand,  in  faith  29s 

Of  friendship,  and  in  arms  alike  approved, — 

Many  a  nation  (nay,  despise  us  not 

That  thus  of  our  free  will,  with  suppliant  speech,  • 

We  come  bearing  these  fillets  in  our  hands) 

Has  sought  to  join  us  to  itself;   but  fate  3°° 

Divine  commanded  us  to  seek  these  lands 

Of  yours.     Here  Dardanus  was  born,  and  here 

Apollo  calls  us  back  with  urgent  voice 

To  Tuscan  Tiber  and  the  sacred  wave 

Of  the  Numician  fount.     Gifts  too  we  bring,  3°s 

Small  remnants  of  our  former  fortunes,  snatched 

From  burning  Troy.     Out  of  this  golden  bowl 

My  sire  Anchises  poured  the  sacred  wine. 

And  these  were  Priam's,  when  he  sat,  and  gave 

The  assembled  people  laws;   this  sceptre^  his,  310 

And  this  tiara;  and  these  robes  were  wrought 

By  Trojan  women." 

While  he  spoke,  the  king 
Sat  motionless,  his  looks  fixed  on  the  ground, 
And  rolled  his  eyes  in  thought.      Nor  broidery 
Of  purple  wrought,  nor  Priam's  sceptre  moved  vs 


Book  in.  27  1 

The  monarch,  as  the  marriage  of  his  child 
Absorbs  his  mind,  revolving  in  his  breast 

The  oracle  of  Faun  us  :  —  this  is  he, 
Come  from  a  foreign  land,  by  fates  foretold 

To  be  his  son-in-law,  and  called  to  rule  310 

The  realm  with  auspices  that  equalled  his  ; 

Whose  future  race  for  valorous  deeds  renowned, 

Should  bv  its  prowess  dominate  the  world. 

At  length  with  joy  he  speaks  :   "  May  the  great  gods 

Speed  their  own  augury  and  our  design  !  3*5 

Trojan,  we  grant  what  thou  dost  ask,  nor  spurn 

Thy  gifts.     While  I  am  king,  you  shall  not  want 

A  fertile  soil,  or  wealth  like  that  of  Troy. 

But  let  ./Eneas  come  himself,  if  such 

Desire  be  his  to  ally  himself  with  us  ;  33° 

Let  him  not  shun  our  friendly  countenance. 

Part  of  our  peaceful  league  't  will  be  to  have  touched 

Your  king's  right  hand.     Now  bear  this  message  back 

To  him  :    I  have  a  daughter,  whom  to  unite 

In  marriage  with  a  prince  of  our  own  race,  335 

The  fateful  voices  from  my  father's  shrine 

And  many  a  warning  sign  from  heaven  forbid. 

From  foreign  shores  a  son-in-law  should  come 

(This  fate,  they  say,  for  Latium  is  in  store), 


280  The   Aineid. 

Who,  mingling  race  with  ours,  shall  lift  our  name  340 

To  starry  heights.     That  this  is  he  the  fates 
Require,  I  must  believe ;  and  if  my  mind 
Foreshadows  aught  of  truth,  him  I  desire." 

He  said ;  and  to  each  Trojan  gives  a  steed 

(Within  his  royal  stalls  three  hundred  stood,  34s 

With  glossy  skins)  ;   to  every  one  in  turn 

A  swift  wing-footed  courser  overspread 

With  housings  of  embroidered  purple  cloth; 

And  golden  chains  are  hung  upon  their  breasts ; 

And,  decked  with  gold,  on  golden  bits  they  champ.        35° 

A  chariot  to  the  absent  prince  he  gives, 

Also  a  pair  of  harnessed  steeds  of  blood 

Ethereal,  from  their  nostrils  breathing  flame,  — 

Born  of  that  spurious  race  which  Circe  bred 

By  stealth,  without  the  knowledge  of  her  sire.  35s 

With  gifts  and  words  like  these,  the  sons  of  Troy 

Upon  their  steeds  return  with  peaceful  news. 

But  lo,  relentless  Juno,  journeying  now 

Back  from  Inachian  Argos  in  her  car 

Borne  through  the  fields  of  air,  from  distant  heights      360 

Looks  from  Sicilian  Pachynus  down, 


Book    ru. 

And  sees  .Tineas   joyous,  and  his  fleet. 

There  at  his  walls  he  plans,  and  trusts  the  soil, 

And  leaves  his  ships.      With  sharp  grief  pierced,  she  Stood  , 

Then  shook  her  head,  and  hitter  words  outpoured:  -  — 

"Ah,  hated  race!      Ah,  Phrygian  fates  that  ci 

And  baffle  ours  !     And  so  they  did  not  fall 

On  the  Sigean  plains,  nor  captive  met 

The  captive's  doom,  nor  burned  with  burning  Troy, 

But  found  their  way  through  battle  and  through  flames. 

My  power,  forsooth,  at  length  exhausted  lies;  i?« 

Or  I  have  rested,  satiate,  from  my  hate  ! 

And  yet  I  dared  to  chase  them  through  the  deep, 

These  exiles  from  their  land,  opposing  them 

O'er  all  the  sea,  the  forces  of  the  sky  3:5 

And  waves  consumed  in  vain.      Of  what  avail 

To  me  the  Syrtes,  —  Scylla, —  what  the  vast 

Charyhdis?     In  the  harbor  they  desired, 

The  Tiber  hides  them,  careless  o(  the  sea 

And  me.     Yet  Mars  was  able  to  destroy  3So 

The  Lapitruu's  gigantic  race:   the  sire 

Of  gods  himself  yielded  to  Dian's  wrath 

The  ancient  Calydon.      What  punishment 

So  great  did  Calydon  or  Lapithae 

Deserve  ?     But  I,  the  royal  spouse  of  Jove, 


36 


282  The  sEneid. 

Who,  wretched,  could  endure  to  leave  untried 

No  plan,  attempting  all,  am  overcome 

By  iEneas.     But  if  not  enough  my  power, 

I  shall  not  pause  to  ask  what  aid  I  may. 

And  if  I  cannot  bend  the  gods  above,  39° 

Then  Acheron  I  '11  move.     What  though  his  course 

Into  his  Latian  realms  I  cannot  bar, 

And  by  unalterable  fate  he  takes 

Lavinia  for  his  wife  ?     Yet  I  may  oppose 

Delay  thereto,  and  hindrance;  yea,  destroy  395 

The  people  of  both  kings.     So  at  this  price 

Of  lives  let  son-in-law  and  father  form 

Alliance.     With  the  blood  of  Rutuli 

And  Trojans,  thou,  O  virgin,  shalt  be  dowered. 

Bellona  at  thy  nuptials  shall  attend.    J  40° 

Not  Hecuba  alone  conceived  and  bore 

The  hymeneal  torch, — but  Venus  too 

Shall  see  her  son  another  Paris  prove, 

And  a  new  firebrand  light  another  Troy !  " 

Thus  having  said,  the  dreadful  deity  4°s 

Flies  earthward.     From  the  infernal  shadows  forth 
She  summons  dark  Allecto  from  the  cells 
Of  her  dire  sisters ;   in  whose  bosom  burn 
Fell  war,  and  wrath,  and  treachery,  and  crimes,  — 


Book   in.  283 

A  monster,  hated  by  her  sire  himself)  •*■ 

Pluto,  and  hated  by  her  sister  fiends ; 
Into  so  many  direful  shapes  she  turns, 

From  her  dark  head  SO  many  vipers  sprout. 

Whom  Juno  stimulates  with  words  like  these  :  — 

"Grant  me,  O  virgin  daughter  of  the  Night, 

This  service,  thy  peculiar  task,  lest  now 

Our  honor  and  our  broken  fame  give  way, 

And  Trojan  craft  succeed  to  circumvent 

Latinus  with  this  marriage,  or  obtain 

Possession  of  the  lands  of  Italy. 

Thou  canst  array  in  battle  kindred  souls 

Of  brothers,  and  embroil  the  peace  of  homes 

In  bitter  hate ;   and  in  their  households  bring 

Scourges  and  funeral  torches.      Unto  thee 

A  thousand  names  belong,  a  thousand  ways  4:5 

Of  harm.      Ransack  thy  teeming  bosom.      Break 

This  formed  alliance.      Sow  the  seeds  of  strife; 

And  let  the  youthful  warriors  with  one  will 

Demand  and  seize  their  weapons  for  the  war!" 

Forthwith,  in  fell  Gorgonian  venom  steeped,  4 

Allecto  seeks  the  realms  and  lofty  halls 
Of  the  Laurentian  king,  and  lays  her  siege 


284  The   ALiteid. 

Before  Amata's  silent  chamber  door ; 

Who,  brooding  o'er  the  coming  of  these  guests 

From  Troy,  and  Turnus'  baffled  nuptials,  sits,  435 

Burning  with  woman's  rage  and  restless  cares. 

At  her  the  goddess  flings  a  serpent  plucked 

Out  of  her  dark-blue  hairs,  and  thrusts  it  through 

The  inmost  heart  and  bosom  of  the  queen, 

That,  wrought  to  fury  by  the  monster,  she  440 

May  embroil  the  household.     In  the  serpent  glides 

Unfelt,  illusive,  'twixt  her  robe  and  breast, 

With  viperous  breath  ;  about  her  neck  becomes 

A  golden  collar,  forms  the  fillet  round 

Her  head,  with  drooping  length,  and  binds  her  hair,      4+5 

And  slips  around  her  limbs.     So  while  the  first 

Contagion  with  its  humid  poison  glides, 

Encroaching  on  each  sense,  and  wreathes  her  limbs 

With  fire,  —  nor  yet  the  flame  is  wholly  felt 

Through  all  her  breast,  —  gently,  the  mother's  way,      450 

She  speaks,  weeping  upon  her  daughter's  fate 

And  Phrygian  nuptials:   "Shall  Lavinia  then, 

O  father,  be  a  Trojan  exile's  bride  ? 

No  pity  for  thy  child,  nor  for  thyself, 

Nor  for  her  mother,  from  whose  arms  the  first  455 

North-wind  that  blows  will  see  this  robber  chief 


J 

I 


Book   vii.  285 

Perfidious  bear  our  maiden  o'er  the  seas  \ 
Is  it  not  thus  the  Phrygian  shepherd  makes 

His  way  to  Lacedsemon,  and  hears  off 

Ledaan  Helen  to  the  Trojan  walls?  46° 

Where  is  thy  plighted  faith  ?     Where  the  regard 

Thou  hadst  for  us  so  long?     And  where  the  hand 

Of  friendship  and  of  kindred  blood,  so  oft 

To  Turnus  given  ?      If  for  a  son-in-law 

Of  foreign  birth  thou  seek'st,  to  share  our  rule,  4f>s 

And  such  thy  fixed  intent,  such  the  command 

Urged  by  thy  sire,  I  hold  that  every  land 

Which,  free,  disowns  our  rule,  is  foreign  land; 

And  that  the  gods  so  mean.     And  if  the  birth 

Of  Turnus  and  his  house  be  sought  and  traced,  470 

Inachus  and  Acrisius  were  his  sires, 

And  they  who  dwelt  in  far  Mycenae's  midst." 

/ 

But  when  with  words  like  these  she  tries  in  vain 

To  move  Latinus,  and  the  snake  has  crept 

W  ith  raging  venom  deep  into  her  heart, 

And  through  her  frame,  then,  wretched,  goaded  on 

By  vast  phantasmal  images,  she  raves 

Delirious,  up  and  down  the  city  streets; 

As  when  a  top,  whirling  beneath  the  whip, 


286  The  JEneid. 

Spins  through  some  empty  court,  lashed  round  hy  boys  4»o 

Intent  upon  their  play.     In  circling  curves 

It  moves :   the  youthful  groups  look  down  amazed, 

And  at  the  flying  box-wood  stare,  and  lend 

Their  souls  to  every  stroke.     So  swift,  the  queen 

Flies  through  the  city,  and  the  brutal  crowds.  4S5 

Nay,  worse  her  lawless  course  :   with  fury  wild 

She  feigns  to  worship  Bacchus;   to  the  woods 

She  flies,  and  hides  her  daughter  in  the  shades 

Of  leafy  mountains,  so  she  may  evade 

This  Trojan  marriage,  and  delay  the  rites.  49° 

"  Hail,  Bacchus !  "   now  she  shrieks  ;  "  worthy  alone 

Art  thou  of  this  fair  virgin  :  she  for  thee 

Assumes  the  thyrsus,  round  thee  leads  the  dance, 

And  cherishes  her  sacred  locks  for  thee !  " 

The  rumor  flies  and  spreads.     With  one  accord,         .     49s 

Fired  by  the  fury's  torch,  the  matrons  all 

Desert  their  homes  and  seek  the  new  abodes, 

And  spread  their  necks  and  tresses  to  the  winds. 

And  others  fill  the  air  with  tremulous  shrieks, 

All  clad  in  fawn-skins,  bearing  vine-wreathed  spears.     s°° 

The  queen  herself  a  burning  pine-wood  torch 

Lifts  in  the  midst,  and  sings  the  nuptial  chant 


/ 


Book   i  u. 

For  Turnus  and  her  daughter,  while  she  rolls 

Her  bloodshot  eyes;  then  frowning  suddenly:  — 

4'  \\o\  dames  of   I.atium,  wheresoe'er  ye  be, 

If  in  your  reverent  hearts  there  yet  remains 

For  sad  Amata  any  loyal  love, 

If  any  pain  for  a  wronged  mother's  rights, 

Then  loose  the  fillets  from  your  hair  :    with  me 

Begin  these  orgies."     So  through  woods  and  through 

The  desert  haunts  of  beasts  Allecto  drives 

The  queen,  beset  and  stung  on  every  side 

By  goads  of  Bacchus. 

Then  when  she  perceives 
How  keenly  she  had  whetted  these  first  stings 
Of  rage,  and  in  confusion  thrown  the  house  sis 

And  counsel  of  the  king,  hence  borne  away 
On  dusky  wings  the  sombre  goddess  rlies 
To  Turnus'  city  (built  by  Danae, 
'T  is  said,  who  with  her  Argive  train  was  wrecked 
Upon  this  shore,  and  called  in  olden  days 
Ardea;   which  great  name  still  lives,  though  all 
Her  glory  has  departed).     Turnus  there 
At  midnight  in  his  palace  chamber  slept. 
Allecto  lays  aside  her  threatening  face 
And  shape  infernal,  changed  to  an  aged  crone  ; 


288  The   Aineid. 

Her    grim     face    ploughed    with    wrinkles,    her    white 

hair 
With  fillet  bound,  and  wreathed  with  olive  leaves : 
Changed  into  Calybe,  a  priestess  old 
Of  Juno's  temple,  she  appears  before 
The  youthful  warrior,  and  accosts  him  thus:  —  530 

"  Canst  thou,  O  Turnus,  see  these  toils  of  thine 
Lavished  in  vain,  thy  sceptre  pass  away 
To  Dardan  colonists?     The  king  denies 
To  thee  thy  bride,  and  dowry  bought  with  blood, 
And  for  his  kingdom  seeks  a  foreign  heir.  53s 

Go  now,  and  brave  the  dangers  that  can  reap 
No  thanks,  but  only  scorn  !     Go,  and  smite  down 
The  Tuscan  bands.     Protect  the  Latin  race 
With  peace.     The  omnipotent  Saturnia  gives 
Command  that  I  this  message  bear  to  thee  540 

In  the  still  night.     Rise  then,  and,  light  of  heart, 
Prepare  to  arm  the  youths,  and  bid  them  march 
Forth  from  the  gates;  and  slay  the  Phrygian  chiefs 
That  sit  on  your  fair  river-banks,  and  burn 
Their  painted  ships.     Celestial  powers  command.  5-15 

And  let  the  Latin  king,  should  he  refuse 
Thy  bride,  nor  keep  his  promise,  know  at  length 
By  proof  the  might  of  Turnus  roused  to  arms." 


Book  in.  289 

With  scornful  smile  the  youth  made  answer  thus  :  — 
"Think  not  the  tidings  have  escaped  my  cars,  550 

That-to  the  Tiber's  waves  a  fleet  has  come; 

Nor  feign  such  terrors:    Juno  forgets  us  not. 

But  thou,  good  mother,  dulled  by  mould  of  years, 

Worn  out  in  mind  and  body,  thy  old  age 

Broods  to  no  purpose  over  groundless  cares,  sss 

And  'mid  the  warlike  armaments  of  kings 

M  icks  thy  prophetic  vision  with  false  fears. 

'T  is  thine  to  tend  the  images  and  fanes  : 

Let  men,  whose  province  't  is,  make  peace  and  war." 

These  words  inflamed  Allecto's  soul  with  wrath.  s6° 

While  yet  he  spoke,  a  sudden  trembling  seized 
His  limbs.      His  eyes  were  fixed.      So  many  snakes 
IIi>sed  from  the  Fury's  head,  so  terrible 
Her  form  appeared.      Then,  as  he  strove  to  rise 
And  speak,  she  thrusts  him  back,  rolling  her  eyes  s6s 

Ot  glaring  flame;   and,  lifted  from  her  hair, 
Two  serpents  rear  their  necks.      Her  sounding  lash 
She  cracks,  and  adds  these  words,  with  raving  lips  :  — 
"Behold  me  then  —  me,  feeble  and  outworn 
With  mould  of  years  —  amid  the  wars  of  ki:: 
Mocked  by  old  age  with  false  and  groundless  tears ! 
37 


290  The   Aineid. 

Look  well  on  me :   from  my  fell  sisters'  home 

I  am  here,  —  and  war  and  death  are  in  my  hand!  " 

This  said,  against  the  warrior's  breast  she  hurls 
Her  torch  ;   with  lurid  glare  it  burns  and  smokes,  57s 

Fixed  in  his  heart.     A  dreadful  terror  breaks 
His  sleep  :   great  drops  of  sweat  bathe  all  his  limbs. 
Wildly  he  calls  for  arms ;  for  arms  he  seeks 
About  his  chamber,  and  through  all  the  house, 
Maddened  with  thirst  for  war,  and  rage  insane.  580 

As  when  beneath  a  bubbling  caldron's  ribs 
The  flames  of  crackling  twigs  roar  round  the  sides, 
The  water  swells  and  leaps  with  fervid  heat, 
Till  unrestrained  it  steams  above  the  rim, 
And  the  dense  vapor  rolls  into  the  air.  58s 

'So,  the  alliance  broken,  to  his  chiefs 
He  points  the  way  to  King  Latinus'  throne, 
And  bids  them  arm,  protect  the  Italian  land, 
And  thrust  the  invaders  out;   that  he  himself 
A  match  for  Trojans  and  for  Latins  both,  590 

Will  come.     This  said,  he  calls  upon  the  gods ; 
With  rival  zeal  for  war  the  troops  are  stirred ; 
These  by  their  chieftain's  youth  and  beauty  moved, 
Those  by  his  ancestry  or  famous  deeds. 


Book  in. 

While  Turnus  thus  with  daring  courage  fills 
The  Rutuli,  upon  her  Stygian  wings 
Allecto  moves  against  the  Trojan  camp. 
With  arts  oi  new  device,  she  espies  a  place 

Where  beautiful  lulus  by  the  shore 

Was  hunting  the  wild  beasts  with  snares  and  steeds.        e->^ 

A  Midden  madness  on  the  hounds  she  cast, 

i  touched  their  nostrils  with  the  well-known  scent, 
And  fired  them  with  the  rage  to  chase  a  .stag. 
This  the  first  cause  of  troubles  proved,  and  lit 
The  dames  oi   war  within  the  peasants'  hearts.  605 

This  stag  was  of  a  lovely  form,  with  large 

Fair  antlers  ;   from  its  mother's  udders  snatched, 

And  reared  by  Tyrrheus'  children,  and  their  sire 

Himself,  the  keeper  of  the  royal  herds, 

And  guardian  of  the  fields  that  stretched  around.  6io 

Hi-  daughter  Silvia  was  wont  to  deck 

The  creature's  horns  (accustomed  to  her  sway) 

W  ith  woven  wreaths,  and  comb  its  hairy  sides, 

And  wash  it  in  the  stream.      Patient  beneath 

llcr  hand,  familiar  at  the  household  meals, 

It  roamed  the  woods,  and  to  the  well-known  door 

Returned  at  night,  how  late  soe'er  the  hour. 


292  The   Alneid. 

Far  from  its  home,  lulus'  rabid  hounds 

Give  chase,  as  down  the  grateful  stream  it  floats, 

Or  cools  its  heat  upon  the  verdant  bank.  6;o 

Ascanius,  kindled  with  the  love  of  praise, 

Aims  from  his  bow  an  arrow,  and  the  fates 

Prompt  his  uncertain  hand.      With  whizzing  sound, 

Through  flank  and  bowels  flies  the  shaft.     The  beast, 

Wounded  and  bleeding,  in  the  well-known  stalls  ^5 

Takes  refuge,  and  as  if  imploring  aid, 

Fills  all  the  house  with  piteous  moans.     And  first 

Silvia  calls  loud  for  help,  and  claps  her  hands, 

To  summon  the  rude  peasants.     Swift  they  come 

(For  hidden  in  the  woods  the  Fury  lurks).  630 

One  with  a  charred  and  sharpened  brand  is  armed, 

One  with  a  knotty  club ;   whate'er  they  find, 

Rage  turns  into  a  weapon.     Tyrrheus  leaves 

The  oaken  log  which,  cleaving  into  four, 

His  driving  wedges  split,  and  calls  his  men,  635 

And,  breathing  hard,  snatches  his  rustic  axe. 

The  Fury  from  her  watching-places  finds 

The  hour  most  fit  for  mischief.      Perched  upon 

The  summit  of  the  cottage  roof,  she  sounds 

The  shepherd's  call,  and  through  her  crooked  horn        g-p 


Book    in.  203 

Pours  her  Tartarean  voice.     The  woods  around 
Tremble  with  tear,  and  all  the  forest  depths 
Resound  :   far  oft,  the  lake  of  Trivia  hears, 

And  the  white  waters  oi    the  sulphurous  Nar, 

And  fountains  o(  Velinus;  while  with  awe 

Pale  mothers  press  their  children  to  their  breasts. 

Then,  at  the  signal  of  the  dreadful  horn, 

The  untamed  peasants  snatch  on  every  side 

Their  arms,  and  rush  together;   and  the  youths 

Of  Troy  forth  from  their  open  camp  pour  out  650 

To  help  Ascanius.      Battle  lines  are  formed. 

now  with  rustic  contest  of  rude  clubs 
And  sharpened  stakes  the  war  is  waged,  but  fought 
With  two-edged  steel ;  and  far  and  wide  around 
Bristles  a  deadly  crop  of  naked  swords;  655 

And  brazen  armor  flashes  in  the  sun, 
And  glimmers  on  the  clouds  :   as  when  the  sea 
Begins  to  whiten  in  the  rising  wind, 
Swells  by  degrees,  and  higher  still  and  higher 
Mounts  from  its  lowest  depths  into  the  sky. 

Here  in  the  foremost  ranks  young  Almo  falls, 
The  eldest  of  the  sons  of  Tyrrheus,  pierced 


294  The  Aineid. 

By  a  whizzing  arrow.      In  his  throat  the  wound 

Chokes  his  soft  voice  and  slender  life  with  blood. 

Many  a  hero's  corpse  around  there  fell :  665 

E'en  old  Gala?sus,  striving  to  make  peace; 

Most  just  he  was,  and  in  Ausonian  fields 

Most  wealthy  once.      Five  flocks  of  sheep  were  his; 

Five  herds  of  cattle  back  from  pasture  came ; 

And  with%a  hundred  ploughs  he  turned  his  soil.  670 

While  yet  with  equal  arms  the  war  is  waged, 

The  Fury,  having  done  her  promised  task, 

And  with  the  opening  battle  steeped  the  field 

Of  war  in  blood  and  slaughter,  leaves  behind 

Hesperia,  and  victorious  turns  her  course  675 

Through  ether,  and  addresses  Juno  thus, 

With  haughty  voice:   "Behold,  thy  work  achieved 

For  thee,  in  discord  and  disastrous  war ! 

Now  bid  them  join  in  friendly  truce  and  league, 

While  with  Ausonian  blood  the  Trojans  reek  !  680 

This  also  will  I  add  ;  if  such  thy  will, 

With  rumors  I  will  rouse  the  neighboring  towns, 

And  fill  their  souls  with  maddening  thirst  for  war, 

So  they  may  flock  from  every  side  with  aid. 

I  '11  strew  their  fields  with  arms."     Then  Juno  thus       6ss 


Book  in.  295 

Replied  :  "  Enough  of  tenors  ami  of  frauds. 

The  causes  of  the  war  stand  (irmly  fixed. 

Now  hand  to  hand  they  fight.     The  arms  which  fii  1 

B)    chance  were  given,  are  steeped  in  i'l  e  h  blood  nOW. 

Such  be  the  bridals,  such  the  nuptial  rites 
That  they  shall  celebrate,  —  this  wondrous  son 
Of  Venus,  and  the  Latin  king.      Hut  thou, — - 
The  Olympian  Ruler  wills  no  farther  flight 
Of  thine  through  these  ethereal  regions.      Hence! 
I,  if  the  future  brings  more  tasks,  will  guide  695 

The  affairs  myself."     Thus  spoke  Saturnia. 
The  fiend  then  spread  her  hissing  serpent  wings, 
And  left  the  skies,  and  sought  the  infernal  shades. 

Midway  in  Italy  there  is  a  place 
Beneath  high  mountains,  famed  in  many  lands,  700 

The  valley  of  Amsanctus,  girt  around 
With  shadowy  woods.     A  torrent  in  the  midst 
With  crooked  course  brawls  o'er  the  sounding  rocks. 
Here  frowns  an  awful  cave,  the  breathing  hole 
Of  Dis,  a  gulf  that  opes  pestiferous   jaws, 
And  yawns  on  Acheron  abrupt.      Here  down 
The  Fury  plunges,  and  relieves  the  heavens  and  earth 
Of  her  detested  presence. 

None  the  less 


1/ 


296  The  A^neid. 

Meanwhile,  Saturnia  completes  the  war 

Begun.     The  peasants  from  the  battle-field  710 

Into  the  city  rush,  and  bear  the  dead; 

Young  Almo,  and  the  gashed  and  bloody  face 

Of  old  Galassus.     They  implore  the  gods, 

And  call  the  king  to  witness.^  Turnus  comes, 

And  in  the  midst  of  the  accusing  crowd  715 

Doubles  their  dread  of  slaughter  and  of  flames; 

Cries  that  the  Trojans,  mixing  Phrygian  blood 

With  theirs,  are  called  to  lord  it,  —  he  thrust  out. 

Then  they  whose  mothers,  fired  by  Bacchus,  leap 

And  dance  through  pathless  woods  (Amata's  name         720 

Is  no  slight  spell),  assemble  from  all  sides, 

Importunate  for  war.     These  all  forthwith, 

Spite  of  all  omens  and  the  fates  divine, 

Demand  this  dreadful  war,  and  crowd  around 

The  palace  of  the  king.     He,  like  a  rock  725 

That  stands  unmoved  amid  the  sea,  resists; 

Like  a  sea-rock  amid  the  loud  uproar 

Of  barking  waves  around,  the  surging  foam 

And  sea-weed  slipping  from  its  rugged  sides. 

But  when  no  power  avails  to  overcome  73° 

Blind  counsels,  and  all  moves  at  Juno's  nod, 

The  royal  father  having  called  full  oft 


Book  in. 

The  gods  to  witness,  and  the  empty  wind    ; 

"  Alas,"  he  erics  "  WC  are  broken  by  the  fat 

And  driven  by  the  storm.      ()  wretched  men! 

With  your  own  sacrilegious  blood,  these  deeds 

Shall  be  atoned.      For  thee,  0  Turnus,  thee, 

The  impious  cause  or   war,  dire  punishment 

Remains  in  store.     Too  late  unto  the  gods 

Thy  prayers  and  vows  shall  rise.     For  me,  my  rest 

Is  all  prepared.      My  haven  is  at  hand  ; 

Robbed  only  of  a  calm  and  happy  death." 

He  said  no  more,  but  shut  himself  within 

His  house,  and  left  all  guidance  of  the  state.     / 

Hesperian  Latium  had  a  custom,  long  -45 

Held  sacred  by  the  Albans,  and  by  Rome, 
The  mistress  of  the  world,  adopted  now, 
W  hene'er  they  move  to  war:   whether  against 
The  Geta?  they  press  on  in  battle  grim, 
Or  the  Arabs,  or  Hyrcanians,  or  pursue 
Their  way  toward  India  and  the  morning  star, 
To  win  their  standards  back  from  Parthian  hordes. 
There  are  two  gates  of  War,  so  called  of  old, 
Sacred  by  long  religious  awe,  and  fear 
Ot    Mars;   shut  with  a  hundred  brazen  bolts, 
38 


298  The  Alneid. 

And  iron  bars  of  ever-during  strength. 

Janus  their  keeper  ne'er  deserts  his  post. 

Here,  when  the  sentence  of  the  chiefs  is  war, 

The  consul,  robed  in  state,  in  Gabine  mode, 

Himself  unlocks  the  grating  gates,  and  calls  760 

To  arms  ;  the  warriors  all  repeat  the  cry, 

And  brazen  horns  mingle  with  hoarse  assent. 

Even  so  they  urged  Latinus  to  proclaim 

War  'gainst  the  Trojans,  and  the  dreadful  gates 

Unbar.     But  from  this  touch  he  shrank  averse,  76s 

And  shunned  the  hated  task,  and  hid  himself 

In  darkness.     Then  the  queen  of  gods,  herself 

Descending  from  the  skies,  the  unwilling  gates 

Pushed  with  her  hand,  and  turned  the  hinges  back, 

And  open  burst  the  iron  gates  of  war.  770 

Now  all  Ausonia  burns,  that  slept  before 

Calm  and  unmoved.     Some  take  the  field  afoot ; 

Some,  mounted  on  tall  steeds,  through  clouds  of  dust 

Spur  by  in  furious  haste.     All  seek  for  arms. 

Others  their  bucklers  and  their  javelins  cleanse  77s 

With  unctuous  lard,  and  grind  the  battle-axe, 

And  take  delight  to  see  the  standards  spread, 

And  hear  the  trumpet's  blare.     Five  cities  large 


Book  ni.  299 


Their  anvils  bring,  and  whet  their  steel  anew, — 

Atina,  Ardca,  and  Tibur  proud, 

Crustumium,  and  Antemiv.r  turret-crowned. 

Some  forge  strong  helmets,  and  bend  willow  wands 

For  shields;    while  others  hammer  COrscletS  out 

0\  brass,  or  silver  greaves.     To  this  must  yield 

All  love  and  honor  of  the  plough  and  scythe; 

And  e'en  their  fathers'  swords  are  wrought  anew. 

And  now  the  trumpet  sounds,  the  password  runs; 

One  snatches  down  his  helmet  from  his  walls; 

Another  harnesses  his  restive  steeds, 

And  dons  his  shield  and  triple-twisted  mail,  79° 

And  girds  his  faithful  sword  upon  his  side. 

Now,  Muses,  open  wide  your  Helicon, 

And  wake  the  song,  — what  kings  were  roused  to  war  ; 

Who  led,  who  followed  to  the  battle-field  ; 

What  heroes  in  those  early  days  gave  fame 

To  Italy,  and  with  what  arms  is  blazed. 

For  you,  O  goddesses,  remember  all, 

And  can  recount.      Feebly  the  breath  of  fame 

From  those  far  days  comes  whispering  in  our  ears. 


T* 


rst  to  the  war  from  Tyrrhene  shores  goes  forth 


300  The   Aineid. 

Mezentius,  fierce  contemner  of  the  gods, 

His  bands  arrayed  in  arms.     Next  Lausus  goes, 

His  son,  for  manly  beauty  unsurpassed 

By  all  save  Turnus;  Lausus,  who  could  tame 

The  mettled  steed,  and  fell  the  forest  beast,  8e5 

Down  from  the  city  of  Agylla  leads 

In  vain  a  thousand  warriors.     Happier  he 

Had  been  beneath  paternal  rule  more  just, 

Or  had  Mezentius  never  been  his  sire. 

Fair  Aventinus  next,  Alcides'  son,  sio 

Drives  o'er  the  field  his  car  that  won  the  palm, 

And  his  victorious  steeds.     Upon  his  shield 

The  emblem  of  his  mighty  sire  he  bears, 

A  Hydra  cinctured  with  a  hundred  snakes. 

'T  was  he  the  priestess  Rhea  in  the  woods  815 

Of  Aventine  brought  forth  in  secret  birth, — 

The  woman  mingling  with  the  god;   what  time 

The  great  Tirynthian  conqueror  touched  the  shores 

Of  Latium,  Geryon  being  slain,  and  bathed 

In  Tyrrhene  waters  his  Iberian  herds.  820 

For  arms,  his  soldiers  bear  long  pikes  and  spears 

And  tapering  swords  and  Sabine  darts;  while  he 

Himself,  on  foot,  clothed  in  a  lion's  skin 


Book   in.  3© i 

With  grim  and  shaggy  fur,  the  white  teeth  worn 

About  his  head,  strides  through  his  royal  halls  815 

In  the  rough  garb  oi  Hercules  his  sire. 
Then  two  twin  brothers  come  from  Tibur's  walls 

(Named  from  Tihurtus,  brother  to  these  twain  1, — 

Catillus  and  bold  Coras,  Argive  youths; 

In  the  front  ranks  and  through  the  thick-set  spears         830 

They  sweep  :    as  when  from  the  high  mountain-tops 

Of  Homole  or  snowy  Othrys  rush 

Two  cloud-born  Centaurs  with  impetuous  leaps  ; 

And  as  they  thunder  down,  the  dense  woods  yield, 

And  the  loud-crashing  underwoods  give  way.  835 

Nor  did  Pntneste's  founder  fail  to  come, 

Circulus,  held  by  every  age  to  be 

The  kingly  son  of  Vulcan,  born  among 

The  rural  herds,  and  found  amid  the  fire. 

A  band  of  rustics  from  around  attend  840 

His  steps ;   they  who  in  steep  Pra?neste  dwell, 

Or  Gabian  Juno's  fields,  or  on  the  banks 

Ot  the  cool  Anio,  or  the  spray-wet  rocks 

C)t   Hemic  streams ;   and  they  whose  pasturage 

Fertile  Anagnia  yields,  or  Amasene. 

Not  all  are  armed;   nor  shields  nor  rattling  cars 


302  The  Aineid. 

Are  theirs :  but  some  sling  balls  of  lead,  and  some 

Carry  two  spears;  and  tawny  wolf-skin  caps 

They  wear  :   the  left  foot  naked  on  the  ground, 

And  on  the  right  a  sandal  of  raw  hide.  85o 

Messapus  next,  steed-tamer,  Neptune's  son, 
Invincible  by  fire  or  steel,  calls  forth 
His  sluggish  tribes  and  bands  unused  to  war, 
And  draws  his  sword  again.     With  him  appear 
Fescennian  and  Faliscan  troops,  and  those  855 

Who  hold  Soracte's  steeps,  and  dwell  amid 
Flavinian  fields,  or  on  Ciminius'  mount 
And  lake,  and  in  Capena's  woods.     These  all 
Move  on  in  equal  ranks,  and  praise  their  king 
With  songs  :   as  when  a  flock  of  snowy  swans,  86o 

Winging  their  way  through  clouds,  returning  home 
From  seeking  food,  sonorous  strains  are  heard 
From  their  long  throats ;  the  river  echoes  back, 
And  far  and  wide  the  Asian  marshes  ring. 
None    would    have    thought    that    from    a    troop    like 
theirs  s^- 

Could  cluster  these  battalions  clad  in  brass ; 
But  rather  that  some  airy  cloud  of  cranes 
With  clamors  hoarse  were  flying  from  the  sea. 


Book  in.  303 


Lo,  Clausus,  born  of  ancient  Sabine  blood, 

Leads  on  a  mighty  host,  himself  a  host; 

Prom  whom  the  Claudian  family  derived 

Its  name,  diffused  through  Latium,  since  the  state 

Of     Rome    was    shared    with     Sabines.        Leagued    with 

him 
A  mighty  Amiternian  cohort  comes, 

And  they  of  ancient  Cures:    bands  that  hold  875 

Eretum,  and  Mutusca's  olive  groves; 
All  those  who  in  Nomentum's  city  dwell, 
Or  on  Velinus'  dewy  fields;   and  they 
From  Tetrica's  rough  rocks,  and  from  the  sides 
Of  Mount  Severus,  and  Casperia, 
And  Foruli,  and  from  Himella's  stream  ; 
They  who  the  Tiber  drink,  and  Fabaris ; 
Whom  frigid  Nursia,  and  whom  Horta  sends; 
And  tribes  from  Latium  ;   also  those  who  dwell 
Where  Allia's  ill-omened  waves  divide 
Their  lands.      All  these  come  thronging  thick  and  fast 
As  rolling  waves  of  Lybian  seas,  what  time 
The  fierce  Orion  in  the  wintry  floods 
Has  set,  or  as  the  dense  and  bearded  crops 
That  burn  in  summer  suns  upon  the  plains 
Of  Hermus,  or  the  yellow  Lycian  fields. 


304  The  Aineid. 

With  ringing  shields  they  march.      Beneath  their  tread 
The  earth  is  startled. 

Next  Halesus  comes, 
Of  Agamemnon's  line,  a  foe  to  all 

Of  Trojan  name.     He  to  his  chariot  yokes  895 

His  steeds,  and  hurries  on  for  Turnus'  aid 
A  thousand  men  of  aspects  fierce  and  rough ; 
They  who  the  fertile  Massic  soil  upturn, 
And  plant  with  vines;  and  those  who  from  their  hills 
The  Auruncan  fathers  sent,  and  neighboring  fields  9°° 

Of  Sidicina  ;    those  who  Cales  left ; 
And  dwellers  by  Volturnus'  shallow  stream; 
And  rough  Saticulan  and  Oscan  bands : 
These  carry  tapering  darts,  with  pliant  straps 
Deftly  adjoined;  the  left  arm  bears  a  shield;  9°s 

Their  swords  are  crooked,  for  close  combat  shaped. 

Nor,  CEbalus,  shalt  thou  depart  unsung, 

Whom  a  Sebethian  nymph  to  Telon  bore, 

'T  is  said,  when  he  the  Teleboan  isle 

Caprea  ruled,  an  aged  king.      His  son  910 

Disdained  his  father's  land,  and  wide  around 

Extended  o'er  Sarrastes'  tribes  his  sway, 

And  shores  by  Sarnus  watered;   they  who  hold 


Book   i  n.  305 

Batulum,  Rufrae,  and  Celenna's  fields; 

And  thcv  on  whom  Abella's  fruit-trees  look. 
These  in  Teutonic  fashion  hurl  their  .spears, 
With  caps  o(  cork-tree  hark  upon  their  beads, 

And  shine  with  brazen  shields  and  brazen  swords. 

Thee  too  the  mountain  steeps  of  Nursa?  sent 

To  battle,  Ufens,  fortunate  and  famed  9^ 

In  arms,  horn  of  the  rugged  ./Equian  race, 

Who  hunt  through  woods,  and  clothed  in  armor,  till 

The  stubborn  glebe,  and  whose  delight  it  is 

To  live  by  plunder  and  perpetual  spoil. 

Then  came  a  priest  of  the  Marruvian  race, —  9-5 

A  wreath  of  fertile  olive  decked  his  helm, — 
Strong  Umbro,  sent  by  King  Archippus  ;   he 
W  ith  hand  and  voice  knew  how  to  lull  to  sleep 
The  serpent  tribe,  the  poison-breathing  snakes, 
And  soothed  their  rage,  and  cured  with  skill  their  bite.   930 
But  not  against  the  Dardan  spear  that  pierced 
His  breast  did  all  his  medicines  avail  ; 
Nor  did  his  sleepy  incantations  help 
Hi-  wounds,  nor  herbs  culled  on  the  Marsian  hills. 
For  thee  the  Anguitian  woods  shall  mourn  ;    for  thee 
The  Fucine  wave,  and  all  the  liquid  lakes. 
39 


306  The   sEneid. 

Next  Virbius  came,  Hippolytus'  fair  son, 
Whom,  famed  for  arms,  his  mother  Arieia  sent; 
Reared  in  Egeria's  grove,  and  marshy  shores, 
Where  Dian's  rich  and  easy  altar  stands.  940 

For,  as  the  legend  goes,  Hippolytus, 
By  his  step-mother's  artifices  slain, 
Dragged  by  his  frightened  steeds,  to  appease  the  wrath 
Of  his  own  father,  to  the  upper  air 

And  the  ethereal  stars  came  back  once  more,  94s 

Revived  by  Paeon's  herbs  and  Dian's  love. 
Then  the  almighty  father,  wroth  that  one 
Of  mortal  mould  should  rise  again  to  life, 
Hurled  the  divine  inventor  of  such  art 
Medicinal  down  with  lightnings  to  the  gloom  95° 

Of  Stygian  shades.     But  tender  Trivia  hid 
Hippolytus,  and  to  the  Egerian  nymph 
Confided  him,  to  pass  his  humble  life 
Amid  the  lonely  woods  of  Italy, 

And  change  his  name  to  Virbius.     Thence  it  comes,     955 
That  from  Diana's  temple  and  her  groves 
They  drive  away  the  horn-hoofed  horses,  since 
They,  frightened  by  the  monsters  of  the  sea, 
Dashed  on  the  shore  the  chariot  and  the  youth. 
But  none  the  less,  his  son  trains  for  the  field  960 

His  mettled  steeds,  and  drives  them  to  the  war. 


Book    in. 


With  noble  form,  o'ertopping  by  a  head 
The  rest,  comes  Turnus,  Armed,  among  the  first: 
Ili-  lofty  helmet  crowned  with  triple  crest 

rs  .1  Chimaera  breathing  from  its  jaws  96s 

.Ftn.r.m  tire;  more  baleful  rage  the  flames 

The  more  the  battle  waxes  hot,  and  blood 

I-  poured.      In  glittering  gold  upon  his  shield  — 

A  memorable  theme  —  is  wrought  the  form 

Of  Io,  now  a  heifer,  overgrown  970 

With  bristlv  hair,  and  with  her  horns  erect, 

And  Argus  watching  her,  and  Inachus 

Pouring  a  river  from  his  sculptured  urn. 

Then  comes  a  cloud  of  followers  on  foot ; 

And  over  all  the  plain  the  bucklered  hosts  975 

Grow  thick  ;   the  Argive  youths,  the  Auruncan  hands, 

Rutulians,  and  Sicanian  veterans, 

And  armed  Sacranians,  and  Labici  come, 

With  painted  shields;   all  those  who  till  thy  fields, 

O  Tiber,  and  Numicius'  sacred  shore,  980 

Or  drive  the  ploughshare  through  Rutulian  hills, 

And  the  Circaean  promontory;    those 

W  hose  meadows   Jupiter  of  Anxur  guards, 

Whose  verdant  groves  Feronia  consecrates, 


3o8 


The   Aineid. 


Where  spreads  the  gloomy  marsh  of  Satura, 
And  the  cool  Ufens  through  the  valleys  seeks 
Its  winding  course,  and  pours  into  the  sea. 


98S 


Last  comes  Camilla,  of  the  Volscian  race, 

Leading  a  band  of  riders  to  the  field 

In  brazen  armor  clad,  a  warrior  queen : 

Her  hands  unused  to  ply  Minerva's  work 

Of  spindle  and  of  household  broidery; 

A  virgin  she,  inured  to  toils  of  war, 

And  could  outstrip  the  fleet  winds  in  their  course; 

Could  fly  above  the  fields  of  grain,  and  leave 

The  stalks  untouched,  nor  harm  the  tender  ears; 

Or  skim  the  swelling  billows  of  the  sea, 

Her  rapid  feet  unwet.     Forth  from  their  homes 

And  fields  the  warrior  youths  and  matrons  crowd 

In  wondering  amaze  to  see  her  move  ; 

To  see  how  royally  the  purple  veils 

Her  polished  shoulders,  how  with  golden  clasp 

Her  hair  is  bound,  her  Lycian  quiver  borne, 

And,  tipped  with  steel,  her  pastoral  myrtle  spear. 

J 


990 


995 


BOOK     VIII. 

A  S  soon  as  Turnus  from  Laurentum's  tower 
*         Had  raised  aloft  the  signal  for  the  war, 
And  the  hoarse  horns  had  blown  ;   when  he  had  roused 
The  mettled  steeds,  and  urged  the  troops  to  arms ; 
Sudden,  with  one  accord,  all  Latium  joins  s 

Tumultuous,  and  the  youths  with  fury  rage. 
Messapus,  Ufens,  and  Mezentius  too, 
(    mtemner  o{  the  gods,  lead  on  their  hosts, 
And  levy  troops,  and  strip  the  broad  fields  bare 
Of  laborers.     Also  Venulus  is  sent  io 

To  Diomedes'  city,  seeking  help, 
And  telling  how  the  Trojans  gain  firm  hold 
In  Latium,  with  ^Eneas  and  his  fleet 
And  household  gods,  demanding  to  be  called 
Their  king  by  fate's  decree,  while  many  tribes  is 

Flock  to  the  Dardan  hero,  whose  renown 
Is  spreading  far  and  wide  through  all  the  land. 
W  hat  in  these  plans  he  aims  at,  what  event 


3  i  o  The   Aineid. 

Of  war  desires,  should  fortune  favor  him, 

More  manifest  appears  to  Diomed 

Than  to  Prince  Turnus,  or  the  Latin  king. 

So  pass  affairs  in  Latium.     These  events 

The  Trojan  hero  sees,  and  fluctuates 

On  a  great  tide  of  anxious  cares ;  now  here, 

Now  there  dividing  his  swift  thoughts;  his  mind  *s 

Whirled  to  and  fro,  in  everything  unfixed  ; 

As  when  within  a  vase  with  brazen  rims 

The  tremulous  light  upon  the  water  falls, 

Caught  from  the  sun,  or  from  the  radiant  moon, 

Glancing  around  on  every  place,  and  now  3° 

Darts  upward,  and  the  fretted  ceiling  strikes. 

'T  was  night :   on  all  the  weary  life  of  earth, 

On  man,  and  birds,  and  flocks,  deep  sleep  had  fallen  ; 

When  on  the  river-bank  ^neas  throws 

His  limbs,  beneath  the  cool  and  open  sky,  35 

His  breast  disturbed  with  gloomy  thoughts  of  war, 

As  slowly  o'er  his  frame  his  late  rest  steals. 

Then,  through  the  poplar  leaves,  the  god  who  ruled 

The  spot,  old  Tiberinus,  from  his  calm 

And  pleasant  river-bed  was  seen  to  rise.  40 


Book  Fin  311 

A  sea-green  vapory  robe  his  figure  veiled, 
Ami  shadowy  reeds  were  woven  round  his  hair. 
He  with  these  words  dispelled  the  hero's  cares :  — 

1  of  a  race  divine,  who  bringest  back 

To  us  the  Trojan  city,  from  the  midst 

Of  foes,  and  guardest  the  eternal  name 

Of  Pergamus;   O  long-expected  here 

On  the  Laurentian  soil  and  Latin  fields! 

Thy  home,  thy  household  gods  are  here  assured. 

Desist  not  thou,  nor  fear  the  threats  of  war.  50 

The  anger  of  the  gods  has  passed  away. 

Even  now,  lest  to  thy  mind  these  things  should  seem 

Sleep's  idle  fancies,  on  the  shore  thou  'It  find 

A  huge  sow  underneath  the  ilex-trees, 

\\  hite,  on  the  ground,  with  thirty  sucking  young  55 

Of  the  same  color,  clustered  round  her  teats. 

Here  shall  thy  city  be,  thy  rest  from  toils. 

Thence,  when  the  rounds  of  thirty  years  are  full, 

Ascanius  shall  the  illustrious  city  found 

Of  Alba.      No  uncertain  thing  is  this  ^ 

I  prophesy.      Now  in  what  way  thou  mayst 

Achieve  victoriously  what  presses  most, 

Briefly  I  will  unfold.      Upon  these  shores 


3  1 2  The   Aineid. 

The  Arcadians,  a  race  from  Pallas  born, 

Followers  of  King  Evander,  chose  a  spot,  65 

And  built  a  city  on  a  rising  hill, 

Called  Pallanteum,  from  their  ancestor. 

These  with  the  Latin  race  wage  ceaseless  war. 

Take  them  for  friends,  and  make  a  league  with  them. 

I,  by  my  channel  and  my  river-banks,  70 

Will  lead  thee  on,  that  thou  mayst  glide  along 

Against  the  opposing  current  with  thine  oars. 

Up  then,  O  goddess-born  !  and  while  the  stars 

Of  early  dawn  are  setting,  offer  prayers 

To  Juno  ;  overcome  her  wrath  and  threats  75 

With  suppliant  vows.     To  me,  when  victory  smiles, 

Thou  shalt  give  honors  due.     'T  is  I  whom  thou 

Behold'st,  laving  the  banks  with  swelling  flood, 

And  flowing  through  the  fertile  harvest  fields, — 

Cerulean  Tiber,  river  most  beloved  so 

By  heaven.     My  spacious  home  is  here ;  and  here 

The  crown  of  lofty  cities  shall  arise." 

He  said;   and  in  the  deepest  river-bed 

Sank  down  and  hid  :   while  from  iEneas'  eyes 

Night  and  sleep  vanished.     Up  he  rose,  and  saw  8s 

The  Orient  splendor  of  the  heavenly  Sun; 


Book   i  in.  3 1  | 

And  scooped  the  water  in  his  hollowed  hands, 
With  due  observance:  then  poured  forth  these  words :  — 
"Ye    nymphs,  Laurentian  nymphs,    from    whom    the 
streams 
Are  born;   and  thou,  O  father  Tiber,  known  ■, 

In  these  thy  sacred  waters;   C)  receive 
iEneas,  and  at  last  from  perils  guard  him. 
In  whatsoever  fount  thy  waters  hold 
Thy  presence,  pitying  this  hard  lot  of  ours, 
From  whatsoever  spot  thou  issuest  forth  95 

In  beauty,  thee  with  honors  and  with  gifts 
I  will  forever  praise.      O  horned  River, 
Thou  sovereign  ruler  of  Hesperian  waves, 
Be  near,  and  seal  the  promise  thou  hast  given  !  " 

So  saying,  two  ships  with  double  tiers,  and  oars  »oo 

Well  fitted,  he  selects,  and  arms  the  crews. 

But  lo  !  a  sudden  marvel  greets  their  eyes. 

A  sow,  surrounded  by  her  young,  all  white, 

Stretched  on  the  shore,  is  seen,  among  the  trees. 

yEneas  to  the  altar  takes  them  all,  105 

A  sacrifice,  great  Juno,  even  to  thee. 

All  through  that  night  the  Tiber  calmed  his  i\oo,\, 
40 


314  The  Aineid. 

And,  ebbing  backward,  stood  with  tranquil  waves, 

Smoothing  its  surface  like  a  placid  lake, 

That  without  struggling  oars  the  ships  might  glide.        no 

So  on  their  way  they  speed  with  joyous  shouts. 

Along  the  waters  slip  the  well-tarred  keels ; 

The  waves  with  wonder  gaze,  and  from  afar 

The  woods,  unused  to  such  a  sight,  admire 

Upon  the  stream  the  heroes'  glittering  shields  "s 

And  painted  vessels.     Night  and  day  their  oars 

They  ply,  pass  the  long  bending  river's  curves; 

And  through  green  shades  of  overhanging  trees 

They  pierce,  along  the  tranquil  waters  borne. 

The  fiery  sun  had  reached  his  noonday  height,  1=0 

When  from  afar  they  see  a  citadel, 

And  walls,  and  scattered  houses  here  and  there; 

Which  now  Rome  matches  with  the  skies,  but  then 

Evander's  small  and  humble  town.     Then  swift 

They  turn  their  prows,  and  near  the  city's  walls.  ^s 

By  chance,  upon  that  day,  the  Arcadian  king 

Was  offering  solemn  rites  of  sacrifice 

To  great  Amphitryon's  son,  and  to  the  gods, 

Before  the  city,  in  a  sacred  grove  : 

Pallas,  his  son,  with  him,  and  all  the  youths  13° 


B  vk    i' in.  3  1 5 


Of  rank,  and  senators  of  humble  state; 

With  fumes  of  incense,  and  with  tepid  blood 
()t"  sacrifice,  the  altars  smoked.     Hut  when 
They  saw  the  tall  .ships  through  the  shadowy  tn 

Approach  with  gliding  pace  and  silent  oars, 

The  sudden  vision  startles  them  :  they  ri  e 

And  leave  the  least.      Bold  Pallas  then  forbids 

That  they  should  thus  break  off  their  solemn  feast; 

And  snatching  up  a   javelin,  he  rlies 

To  meet  the  strangers.      On  a  rising  ground 

He  stands,  and  from  a  distance  hails  them  thus:  — 

"  Ho,  warriors  !      What  cause  has  brought  you  here 

On  ways  untried?      And  whither  do  ye  go? 

Your  race  ?      Your  country  ?      Bring  ye  peace  or  war  ?  " 

./Eneas  then,  a  peaceful  olive-branch  '45 

Extending,  thus  made  answer  from  his  ship  :  — 

"  Trojans  thou  seest,  with  arms  that  war  against 

The  Latins.      Driven  out  by  them,  in  war, 

To  Evander  we  have  come.      Deliver  this, 

And  say  to  him,  the  chosen  Dardan  chiefs  > 

Have  come  to  ask  a  friendly  league  in  arms." 

Amazed  stood  Pallas  at  so  great  a  name. 

"Whoever  you  may  be,  O  come,"  he  cries; 

"And  with  my  father  speak;   and  be  our  guests 


3  1 6  The   sEneid. 

Beside  our  household  gods."     With  cordial  grasp  155 

He  took  the  hero's  hand,  and  both  advanced, 

Leaving  the  river,  and  wended  through  the  grove.        ^ 


Then  to  the  king  iEneas  speaks,  with  words 

Of  friendly  tone  :   "  Best  of  the  Grecian  race, 

Whom  fortune  bids  me  supplicate  for  aid,  160 

With  peaceful  olive-branches  fillet-wreathed: 

I  had  no  fears,  indeed,  because  thou  wast 

Arcadian,  and  a  leader  of  the  Greeks, 

1;  And  by  thy  birth  allied  to  Atreus'  sons. 
But  my  own  conscious  worth,  and  oracles  165 

Divine,  our  ancestors  akin  by  blood, 
And  thy  wide  fame,  have  moved  me  to  ally 
Myself  with  thee,  urged  by  the  fates  to  come, 
Yet  of  myself  so  willed.     For  Dardanus, 
Founder  and  father  of  the  Ilian  state,  170 

Son  of  Electra,  —  so  the  Grecians  say, — 
Came  to  the  Trojan  people :    she  was  born 
Of  mighty  Atlas,  who  sustains  the  orbs 
Of  heaven  upon  his  shoulders.     Mercury 
Your  father  is,  whom  the  white  Maia  bore  175 

On  cold  Cyllene's  top.     But  Maia  too, 
If  we  may  credit  what  we  hear,  was  born 


Book   i  in.  3 1 7 

Of  that  same  Atlas  who  supports  tin-  Btars. 

Thus  from  one  blood  the  race  of  each  divide  . 

With  this  reliance,  no  ambassadors  •«© 

I  have  sent,  nor  tried  thee  first  with  tunning  arts. 
I,  I  myself  have  risked  my  Hie,  and  come 

With  my  petition  to  thy  royal  court. 

This  Daunian  race  that  wages  war  on  thee, 

If  us  they  expel,  believe  that  naught  they  lack,  its 

But  all  Hesperia  falls  beneath  their  yoke, 

And  all  the  upper  and  the  lower  sea. 

Then  let  us  give  and  take  in  friendly  faith. 

Strong  hearts  we  have  for  war,  courageous  souls, 

And  warriors  tried  in  action." 

Thus  he  spoke.  >9= 

The  king  had  long  scanned  well  the  speaker's  face, 
His  eves,  and  his  whole  form  :   then  thus  replied  :  — 
"  How  joyfully  do  I  receive  and  greet  thee, 
Bravest  of  Trojans ;  and  how  I  recall 
Thy  sire  Anchises'  words,  and  tones,  and  face!  >95 

For  I  remember  that  when  Priam  came 
Seeking  his  sister's  realm,  and  Salamis, 
He  journeyed  to  Arcadia's  frigid  bounds. 
With  the  first  down  of  youth  my  cheeks  then  bloomed  ; 
I  gazed,  admiring,  on  the  Trojan  chiefs  ; 


3  1 8  The   Aineid. 

On  Priam  gazed,  Laomedon's  great  son ; 

But  loftier  than  them  all,  Anchises  stood. 

My  youthful  heart  was  all  aflame  with  zeal 

To  meet  the  hero,  and  to  grasp  his  hand. 

I  approached  him,  and  we  met ;  and  eagerly  *°5 

To  Pheneus  I  brought  him.     He  to  me, 

When  leaving,  gave  a  wondrous  quiver,  rilled 

With  Lycian  arrows,  and  a  cloak  with  gold 

Inwoven,  and  a  pair  of  golden  reins, 

Which  now  my  Pallas  keeps.     So  then,  the  hand  no 

Thou  seek'st,  of  friendly  league,  I  give ;   and  when 

To-morrow's  sun  shall  rise,  thou  shalt  depart 

Gladdened  with  aid  of  warriors  and  supplies. 

Meanwhile,  since  ye  have  hither  come  as  friends, 

Celebrate  now  with  us  these  annual  rites  *»s 

Of  ours,  we  are  forbidden  to  defer, 

And  to  our  tables  come  as  welcome  guests." 

This  said,  he  bids  the  interrupted  feast 

Be  served  again,  and  cups  replaced.      Himself 

He  leads  the  heroes  to  their  grassy  seats  :  *» 

And  first,  iEneas  to  a  maple  throne 

Invites,  with  shaggy  lion's  skin  o'erspread. 

With  rival  zeal  the  attendants  and  the  priest 


Book  fiii  319 

Bring  roasted  flesh  of  bulls,  and  baskets  heaped 

With  bread,  and  pour  the  wine.        I  nes     then, 
And  all  the  Trojans,  feast  upon  the  chine 
And  entrails  of    the  sacrificial  ox. 


Their  hunger  now  appeased,  Evander  speaks:  — 
"These  solemn  forms,  this  customary  feast, 

This  sacred  altar,  are  on  us  imposed 

By  no  vain  superstition,  ignorant 

{){  the  ancient  gods.      O  Trojan  guest,  these  rites 

We  observe,  because  preserved  from  dangers  dire, 

Renewing  thus  the  honors  that  are  due. 

First  look  upon  yon  craggy  pile,  on  stones 

Suspended  ;  scattered  far  and  wide,  the  rocks 

Are  strewn  ;   how  lonely  and  deserted  stands 

That  mountain-fortress;    with  what  ruin  wild 

The  cliffs  are  dragged  and  toppled  from  above! 

That  was  the  cave  hewn  in  a  vast  recess 

Where  dwelt  the  terrible  half-human  form 

Ot   Cacus;    where  no  sunbeams  found  their  wav  ; 

And  ever  with  fresh  slaughter  smoked  the  gr 

On  the  proud  portals  fixed  hung  heads  ot  men, 

Pallid  and  ghastly  in  their  clotted  gore.  Hi 

This  monster's  i>ire  was  Vulcan  ;    his  the  flam 


3  2  o  The   ^Eneid. 

And  smoke  that  issued  from  his  mouth.     His  boast 

Was  in  his  mighty  bulk.     But  time  at  length 

Brought  aid  long  wished,  and  the  advent  of  a  god. 

Alcides  came,  the  great  avenger,  proud  25° 

From  triple  Geryon's  slaughter  and  his  spoils, 

And  hither  drove  his  captured  bulls,  which  filled 

The  river  and  the  vale.     But  Cacus,  fired 

With  fury,  left  untried  no  stratagem 

Or  crime  ;  took  from  their  stalls  four  comely  bulls,        25s 

And  heifers  four,  of  beauty  unsurpassed; 

And,  lest  their  hoof-prints  should  betray  the  theft, 

He  dragged  them  backwards,  with  the  tracks  reversed, 

And  hid  them  in  his  gloomy  cave.     No  signs 

The  seeker  found  to  lead  him  to  the  place.  *fo 

Meanwhile,  when  now  Amphitryon's  son  prepared 

To  move  his  full-fed  herd,  and  to  depart, 

The  cattle,  as  they  left,  began  to  low, 

And  filled  the  woods  and  hills  with  their  complaints. 

When,  from  the  cave,  one  of  the  cows  returned  ^s 

The  sound  ;   and  thus,  though  guarded  close,  betrayed 

The  hope  of  Cacus.     Burning  then  with  rage, 

Alcides  seized  his  arms  and  knotted  club, 

And  gained  the  mountain's  summit.     Cacus  then 

For  the  first  time  was  seen  to  shrink  and  quail,  =70 


Bi 


mi. 


With  troubled  eyes  ;  and  swifter  than  the  wind 
He  fled  to  his  cave.     Fear  to  his  feet  gave  ur 
Then,  having  entered  his  retreat,  he  br< 
The  chains,  and  dropped  the  enormous  .stone  that  hung 
Suspended  by  his  lather's  skill  in  iron,  »7$ 

And  with  the  heaw  mass  his  doorway  blocked. 
Hut  \o !  the  enraged  Tirynthian  god  was  there; 
Ili-  eye  searched  all  about  through  every  part 
To  rind  an  entrance,  while  he  gnashed  his  teeth 
With  rage.      Thrice  round  the  Aventine  he  searched,    iSa 
With  burning  wrath.     Thrice  he  essayed  the  door 
01   rock  in  vain,  and  thrice  sat  down  to  rest. 
There  stood  a  sharp  crag  on  the  cavern's  ridge, 
With  steep-cut  sides  and  towering  height,  the  abode 
Of  tierce,  ill-omened  birds.     This,  as  it  hung  »lj 

Above  the  river,  bearing  full  against 
Its  sides,  he  shook,  and  loosed  it  from  its  base. 
W  ith  sudden  crash  it  falls,  and  the  wide  air 
Resounds ;   the  river-banks  asunder  leap  ; 
Back  rush  the  frightened  waters:   and  the  cave 
Of   Cacus  stands  revealed,  with  all  its  vast 
And  gloomy  rooms.      As  though  by  some  great    hock 
The  earth  should  to  its  very  centre  yawn, 
And  all  the  internal  world  and  pallid  realms 
41 


322  The  Aineid. 

Hateful  to  gods  disclosed,  and  from  above  295 

The  drear  abyss  unbared,  within  whose  deeps 

The  trembling  ghosts  shrink  from  the  light  let  in  ; 

So,  caught  amid  the  unexpected  glare 

Of  sudden  daylight,  prisoned  in  his  cave, 

With  strange  and  hideous  voice  the  monster  roars.  300 

Alcides  from  above  comes  pressing  on 

With  all  his  arms,  and  with  huge  stones  and  clubs 

Assails  him  fast.     But,  wonderful  to  tell, 

He,  seeing  no  escape,  pours  from  his  throat 

Great  clouds  of  smoke,  that  naught  can  be  discerned,    s°s 

And  from  the  bottom  of  the  cave  rolls  up 

A  smoky  night  of  mingled  gloom  and  fire. 

But  this  Alcides  suffered  not ;  enraged, 

With  headlong  leap  he  plunges  through  the  flames, 

There  where  the  smoke  ascends  in  thickest  waves,  31° 

And  the  huge  cave  with  blackest  vapor  boils. 

Here  Cacus  in  the  darkness  breathing  fires 

In  vain,  he  seizes,  grasping  like  a  knot 

His  limbs,  and  clinging,  throttles  him,  until 

His  eyes  start  from  their  sockets,  and  his  throat  3Js 

Is  drained  of  blood.     Then  open  wide,  the  doors 

Wrenched  off,  the  gloomy  den  is  seen,  and  shows 

The  stolen  kine  and  plunder  he  forswore. 


Book 


mi. 


Forth  by  the  feet  the  hideous  corpse  is  dragged. 
The  peasants  gaze  insatiate  on  the  face 
1  dreadful  eyes,  and  on  the  hairy  brea  t, 

And  the  tell  thru.it  with  its  extingui  bed  fii 
Since  then,  wc  pay  the  hero  honors  due, 

I  joyfully  observe  this  sacred  day; 
Potitius  first,  and  the  Pinarian  line, 

The  guardian  oi  these  rite>  of  Hercules, 
Built  in  the  grove  this  altar,  which  we  call 
Our  Greatest,  and  this  name  shall  ever  hear. 

Wherefore,  O  warriors,  wreathe  your  hair  with  leaves, 

In  honor  of  this  deed;   reach  forth  your  cup  3J° 

Invoke  the  god,  whose  name  both  you  and  we 

Revere,  and  willingly  pour  out  the  wine." 

Thus  having  spoken,  with  the  sacred  leaves 

Oi   double-tinted  poplar  he  en  wreathed 

IIi>  hair,  from  which  the  hanging  garlands  drooped;     335 

And  in  his  right  hand  grasped  the  sacred  cup. 

Then  joyfully  the  warriors  pour  the  wine 

Upon  the  table,  and  adore  the  gods. 


Meanwhile  the  sinking  sun  brought  evening  near. 

I  now  the  priests,  Potitius  leading  them, 
Came  clad  in  customary  garb  ot   skins, 


324  The  Aineid. 

And  bearing  torches,  and  prepare  to  lay 

The  grateful  offerings  of  the  evening  feast, 

And  heap  the  altars  with  the  loaded  plates. 

And  round  about  the  sacrificial  fires  345 

The  Salians  sing,  their  brows  with  poplar  crowned  ; 

One  band  of  youths,  another  of  old  men  ; 

The  praises  and  the  deeds  of  Hercules 

They  chant  :  —  how  when  a  babe  he  grasped  and  crushed 

The  serpents  his  step-mother  Juno  sent ;  350 

How  he  in  war  great  cities  overthrew, 

Troy,  and  CEchalia ;   how  a  thousand  tasks 

Of  stern  emprise,  by  King  Eurystheus' 

Command,  and  hostile  Juno's,  he  achieved. 

"  Thou,  O  unconquered  one,  thou  didst  subdue  355 

The  cloud-born  Centaur  shapes,  the  double-formed, 

Hyla?us  and  Pholus;  and  the  Cretan  boar; 

And  the  huge  lion  'neath  the  Nemean  rocks. 

Before  thee  shuddering  shrank  the  Stygian  lake. 

At  thy  approach  the  keeper  of  the  gates  360 

Of  Orcus  trembled,  crouching  o'er  his  heaps 

Or  half-gnawed  bones  within  his  bloody  den. 

No  dreadful  shapes  appalled  thee  :    not  Typhoeus 

Himself,  of  towering  height,  and  wielding  arms. 

Nor  could  the  Hydra's  swarm  of  serpent  heads  3*s 


'/•    I  III. 


Surprise  thee  unprepared.     1 1. til,  thou  true  son 
Of  fove,  who  addest  glory  to  the  gods] 
Be  with  us,  and  thy  favoring  presence  dei 

with  tlu-ir  hymns  they  sing  and  celebrate 
The  hero's  deeds ;  and  Cacus  breathing  fire, 

I  his  grim  cave,  they  add.     The  wood  resounds 
And  the  hills  echo  hack  the  ringing  note-. 

And  now  their  sacred  rites  performed,  they  all 

Turn  to  the  city.      Burdened  with  old 

The  king  moves  onward,  keeping  at  his  side 

/Eneas,  and  his  son,  and  cheers  the  way 

\\  ith  various  discourse;  while  all  around 

The  hero,  admiring,  turns  his  mobile  eyes* 

And,  pleased,  inquires,  and  hears  the  records  told 

Of    each  memorial  of    the  men  of   eld.  j*o 

Evander  then,  Rome's  earliest  founder,  spoke  :  — 

"These  groves  were  once  by  native  Fauns  and  Nymphs 

Inhabited,  and  men  who  took  their  birth 

1     >m  tough  oak-trunks.      No  settled  mode  of  life 

Had  they,  nor  culture;    nor  knew  how  to  yoke 

Their  steer-,  or  heap  up  wealth,  or  use  their  stoi 

With  frugal  hand-;   but  the  rough  chase  supplied 

Their  food,  or  boughs  of  trees.      Then  Saturn  came 


326  The   JEneid. 

From  high  Olympus,  fleeing  before  Jove, 

An  exile  from  the  kingdoms  he  had  lost.  390 

This  stubborn  race  through  mountain  wilds  dispersed 

He  brought  together,  and  to  them  gave  laws; 

And  called  the  region  Latium,  since  he  had  lurked 

In  safety  on  its  shores.     Beneath  his  reign 

The  golden  age,  so  called,  was  seen.     In  peace  39s 

He  ruled  his  people ;  till  by  gradual  steps 

There  came  a  faded  and  degenerate  age, 

And  love  of  war  succeeded,  and  of  gain. 

Then  came  Ausonians  and  Sicanians ; 

And  oft  the  name  Saturnia  was  changed.  4=0 

Then  kings  succeeded,  and  the  form  immense 

Of  rugged  Thybris,  from  whom  came  the  name 

Tiber;   while  that  of  Albula  was  lost. 

Me,  from  my  country  driven  to  lands  remote, 

Chance  and  inevitable  fate  have  placed  4-5 

Upon  these  shores ;   the  nymph  Carmentis  too, 

My  mother,  urging  me  with  warnings  dread, 

And  great  Apollo  who  first  prompted  me." 

Then  moving  onward,  he  an  altar  shows, 

And  gate,  which  now  the  name  Carmental  bears  4«° 

In  Rome;   an  old  revered  memorial 


B  H>k    l  111. 

Of  the  prophetic  nymph  who  first  foretold 
The  future  heroes  oi    Eneas'  line, 

.1  noble  Pallanteum;  next,  the  grove 

its  out,  which  Romulus  the  Asylum  named;  ■*•; 

Then  the  Lupercal  cool  beneath  the  rock  , 
Named  after  Pan,  by  old  Arcadian  wont ; 
And  Argiletum's  grove  be  shows,  and  tells 

Of  Argus'  death,  his  guest  ;    and  calls  the  Bpot 
I      witness,  he  was  guiltless  ol    the  deed.  4«« 

Then  on  to  the  Tarpeian  rock  he  lead-. 
The  way,  and  to  the  Capitol,  now  decked 
With  gold,  then  rough  with  bushes  wild. 
i  then  the  dark  religion  of    the  place 

Haunted  the  timorous  peasants  with  vague  lears.  4-5 

"Within  this  grove,  upon  this  wooded  hill," 

He  said,  "some  deity  his  dwelling  made  ; 

Hut  who  or  what,  none  knows.      The  Arcadians 

Think  they  have  seen  great   Jove  himself,  when  oft 

With  hi-  right  hand  he  shook  his  darkening  shield,        no 

And  called  his  clouds  around  him.      Yon  two  towns 

W  1th  ruined  walls  thou  seest,  the  relics  old 

And  monuments  oi    ancient  days  :    this  i^nc 

W  as  reared  by  Jan  us,  that  by  S.uum  built ; 

Saturnia  and  [aniculum  their  nam< 


328  The   yEneid, 

With  such  discourse  they  approached  the  dwelling-place 

Of  poor  Evander  :   here  and  there  his  herds 

Were  lowing  in  the  places  where  now  stand 

The  Roman  Forum,  and  Carina's  pride. 

Reaching  the  house, —  "  Alcides  once,"  he  said,  440 

"  Fresh  from  his  conquests,  passed  into  these  halls. 

Thou  also,  O  my  guest,  dare  to  despise 

The  pomp  of  wealth,  and  make  thy  soul's  desires 

Worthy  of  such  high  deity  ;   nor  come 

Disdaining  our  small  means  and  humble  state."  44s 

Saying  this,  beneath  his  narrow  roof  he  led 

The  great  iEneas,  and  upon  a  couch 

Of  leaves,  with  Lybian  bearskin  overspread, 

He  placed  his  guest.     The  night  comes  on  apace, 

And  folds  the  earth  around  with  dusky  wings.  45° 

/ 
But  Venus,  her  maternal  love  alarmed 

By  the  Laurentian  threats  and  tumult  wild, 

To  Vulcan,  in  their  golden  chamber,  speaks, 

And  in  her  utterance  breathes  a  love  divine  :  — 

"While  Grecian  kings  were  devastating  Troy,  455 

Whose  falling  towers  were  doomed  by  fate  to  flames, 

I  asked  for  those  unhappy  ones  no  help 

From  thee,  nor  armor  of  thy  skill  and  power  ; 


Book  i  in. 

Nor  thee,  dear  husband,  did  I  wish  to  employ 

In  fruitless  labors,   though   I  owed  BO  much 

To  Priam's  sons,  and  often  wept  to  see 
The  cruel  sufferings  of  ./Eneas.  Now, 
On  the  Rutulian  shores,  by  Jove's  command, 

He  plants  his  feet.      Therefore  I  suppliant  come, 
And  oi   thy  power  divine,  which  I  revere,  *(>> 

I  ask  for  arms,  —  a  mother  for  a  son. 
Thou  to  Nereus'  daughter  once  didst  yield, 
And  thee  Tithonus'  spouse  with  tears  did  move. 
Behold,  what  tribes  combine,  what  strong-barred  gates 
And  ramparts  frown  against  me,  to  destroy  4-0 

My  chosen  ones!  "     So  saying,  her  snow-white  arms 
She  winds  about  her  hesitating  lord, 
And  fondles  him  with  soft  embrace.      He  soon 
Melts  in  the  well-known  flame,  and  through  his  nerves 
And  limbs  the  penetrating  passion  thrills  :  47s 

As  when  the  fiery  rifts  of  lightning  run 
\\  ith  thunder-peals  across  the  gleaming  clouds. 
She,  conscious  of  her  charms,  perceives  with   joy 
The  spell  her  beauty  and  her  wiles  have  wrought. 
Enthralled  by  his  undying  love,  the  sire 
Then  speaks  :    "  Why  seek  so  far  thy  argument  r 
Why  should  thy  faith  in  me,  O  queen  divine, 
4* 


330  The   Alneid. 

Grow  less  ?     Had  such  been  thy  desire,  e'en  Troy 

I  might  have  helped  with  arms;  nor  mighty  Jove 

Nor  fate  forbidding  her  proud  walls  to  stand  ;  485 

And  ten  more  years  to  Priam's  life  have  given. 

And  now,  if  thou  preparest  war,  —  thy  will 

So  fixed,  —  whatever  lies  within  my  art, 

Of  labor  or  of  skill,  in  molten  gold 

And  silver,  or  in  steel,  through  fire,  and  breath  49° 

Of  winds,  I  promise  thee.      Cease  then  by  prayers 

To  put  thy  strength  in  doubt."     He  said,  and  pressed 

With  fond  embrace  his  spouse,  and  sank  to  sleep. 

Then,  when  the  night  had  passed  her  middle  course, 

And  sleep  given  way  to  rest,  what  time  the  wife,       *    495 

Compelled  to  labor  at  the  meagre  loom 

And  distaff,  to  sustain  her  life,  revives 

The  smouldering  coals  and  ashes  on  her  hearth, 

And  adds  the  night  unto  her  daily  toil ; 

And  by  the  firelight  sets  her  maids  their  tasks ;  s°° 

So  she  may  keep  a  chaste  bed  for  her  spouse, 

And  rear  her  little  ones  :  so  at  that  hour 

The  potent  fire-god,  not  less  slack,  awakes 

From  his  soft  couch,  and  plies  his  wonted  work. 


B  ok   i  in. 

Near  Sicily  and  .'I'olian  Lipari 
An  island  rises  steep,  with  smoking  roc 

leath,  by  huge  Cyclopean  foi 
And  eaten  out,  the  vast  -I £tnean  cai 
Thunder,  and  mighty  anvil  strokes  are  heard  ; 
And  all  the  caverns  roar  and   hiss,  with  hi  sio 

01  fiery  steel,  from  panting  furna< 
The  abode  dl   Vulcan  this,  lending  its  name 
To  the  surrounding  soil.     Here  from  on  high 

o  o 

The  fire-god  lights.      Below,  the  Cyclops  toil 

Over  their  forges  J    Brontes,  Steropes, 

I  naked-limbed  Pyracmon.     In  their  hands 
A  thunderbolt,  half  polished,  half  unshaped 
I  Many  ot   these  the  father  sends  from  heaven 

n  the  earth)  :    three  shafts  they  had  added  now, 
Ot   hail,  three  of  dark  rainy  cloud,  three  more 
Ot   rla^iing-tire,  and  three  of  stormy  wind. 
N    W  with  their  work  they  mingled  noise  and  fear, 
And  tierce  territic  glare,  and  wrath,  with  wild 
Pursuing  flames.     Elsewhere  with  urgent  hands 
They  t>>rge  tor  Mars  the  car  and  flying  wheels  sjs 

W  ith  which  he  rouses  men  and  towns  to  war. 
Also  the  angry  Pallas'  arms  are  wrought ; 
The  terrible  JEglS  bright  with  serpent  scales 


3 12  The  sEneid. 

And  gold;   the  Gorgon  worn  upon  her  breast, 

With  twisted  snakes,  and  head  lopped  off,  whose  eyes    530 

Still  turn  and  glare.     "Away  with  all  of  this," 

He  cries,  "  iEtnean  Cyclops  !     Lay  aside 

These  tasks  begun,  and  hither  turn  your  thoughts. 

Arms  for  a  valiant  hero  must  be  made. 

Your  strength,  your  swift  hands,  and  your  finest  art        535 

Are  needed  now.     Haste  then  !  "     No  more  he  said. 

They  all  bend  swiftly  to  their  work,  and  share 

Their  tasks  alike.     The  copper  and  the  gold 

Then  flow  in  streams;  and  in  the  furnace  melts 

The  deadly  steel.     A  mighty  shield  they  forge,  540 

Proof  in  itself  against  all  Latium's  darts. 

With  orbed  plates  on  plates  in  sevenfold  strength 

They  weld  it.     Some  at  the  windy  bellows  work  ; 

Some  plunge  the  hissing  copper  in  the  trough. 

The  cavern  groans  with  anvils.     Up  and  down  -45 

With  ringing  blows  and  measured  time  they  strike, 

And  turn  the  masses  with  the  pincers'  grip. 

While  'mid  the  /Eolian  rocks  the  Lemnian  sire 

Thus  speeds  his  work,  the  tender  light  of  dawn 

And  songs  of  early  birds  beneath  the  roof  ss° 

Waken  Evander  from  his  humble  couch. 


Book  i  in. 

Up  rises  the  old  king,  and  dons  hia  robe, 

Ami  binds  the  Tuscan  sandals  on  his  feet, 

And  girds  about  him  his  Arcadian  sword. 

From  his  left  shoulder  hangs  a  leopard's  skin.  sss 

Two  watch-dogs  from  the  threshold  run  before 

Their  master's  steps.     He,  mindful  oi  his  words 

And  promise,  seeks  the  chamber  of  his  guest, 

For  private  conference.     ,/Eneas  too 

Rose  at  an  early  hour.      Pallas  his  son 

(    >mes  with  the  king,  Achates  with  the  chief. 

They  meet,  join  hands,  and,  sitting  down,  they  talk 

In  unrestrained  discourse.      And  first  the  king:  — 

"Great  leader  of  the  Trojans,  who  being  safe, 

Troy  never  can  be  utterly  o'erthrown  ; 

Small  is  our  strength  proportioned  to  our  name 

To  aid  this  war.      The  Tuscan  river  here 

Hems  us  about.      There,  pressing  round  our  walls, 

Rutulian  arms  resound.      But  I  intend 

To  make  a  league  with  thee,  of  powerful  tri': 

And  armaments  of  wealthy  kingdoms.     Chance 

I  nlooked  for  shows  a  way  of  safety  near. 

By  fate's  requirement  thou  hast  come  to  us. 

N  ot  far  from  hence  the  ancient  city  stands, 


334  The  yEneid. 

Agylla,  where  the  Lydian  race,  renowned  575 

In  war,  once  settled  on  the  Etruscan  hills. 

At  last,  when  it  had  flourished  many  years, 

Mezentius  with  a  proud  and  cruel  sway 

Held  it.     Why  need  I  tell  this  tyrant's  deeds 

Of  murder  that  no  language  can  describe  ?  580 

The  gods  requite  such  crimes  on  him  and  his ! 

A  wretch,  who  bound  the  living  to  the  dead, — 

Bound  hands  to  hands,  faces  to  faces  chained, — 

And  left  them  tortured  in  a  loathed  embrace 

Of  pest  and  blood,  to  die  slow,  cruel  deaths.  585 

But  wearied  out  at  last  by  these  mad  crimes, 

The  citizens  rose  up  in  arms  'gainst  him 

And  all  his  house,  and  slew  his  friends,  and  fired 

His  palace  roof.     He,  fleeing  thence,  amid 

The  slaughter  of  the  Rutuli,  escaped,  59° 

And  sought  the  friendly  shelter  and  defence 

Of  Turnus.     Wherefore  all  Etruria  rose 

Inflamed  with  righteous  wrath,  demanding  war 

Immediate,  and  the  tyrant's  punishment. 

These  hosts  I  give  thee,  thou  their  leader  be.  595 

For  all  along  the  shore  their  galleys  crowd 

With  warlike  cries,  entreating  to  advance. 

An  aged  soothsayer  restrains  their  zeal 


» 

With  fateful  words:  'Ye  brave  M     >nians, 
The  flower  and  strength  of  old  heroic  tiro 
Bv  righteous  indignation  gainst  your  I 
Impelled,  and  kindled  by  Mezentius'  crira 

hief  of  Italy  must  lead  this  h 
Choose  ye  a  foreign  leader.'     Terrified 
By  such  divine  commands,  the  Etruscan  tro< 
On  yonder  field  encamp.     Tarchon  himself 
Has  sent  ambassadors,  who  offer  me 
The  crown  and  sceptre,  and  each  royal  bad 
If  I  will    join  their  camp,  and  be  their  ki: 
But  envious  old  age  with  slow  chilled  blood 
And  strength  worn  down,  too  late  for  war's  emprise, 

tlics  this  rule  to  me.      I  would  exhort 
My  son  to  take  it,  were  it  not  that  he, 
Born  of  a  Sabine  mother,  and  mixed  race, 
Drew  from  this  land  a  portion  of   his  blood. 
Thou,  favored  by  thy  years  and  foreign  birth, 
And  whom  the  deities  demand,  —  take  thou 
This  place,  brave  leader  ol    the  united  ho  I 

Troy  and  Italy.     I  give,  beside  . 
My  Pallas,  hope  and  solace  of    my  age. 
Under  thy  master  hand  my  boy  shall  learn 
I       endure  the  hard  and  heavy  tasks  ot    war; 


2)^6  The  sEneid. 

And  while  still  young,  know  thee,  and  see  thv  deeds. 
Two  hundred  norsemen,  choice  Arcadian  youths, 
I  send  with  him.      Pallas  himself  will  add  625 

As  many  of  his  own." 

Scarce  had  he  spoken 
(/Eneas  and  Achates  with  fixed  eyes 
Sat  musing  gloomily  on  many  things) 
When  from  the  clear  sky  Cytherea  gave 
A  sign,  —  a  sudden  flash,  a  sudden  peal  630 

Of  thunder,  and  a  shock  that  seemed  to  hurl 
All  things  together.      Through  the  ether  rang 
The  Tyrrhene  trumpets;   up  they  looked:   again 
And  yet  again  the  fearful  thunder  crashed. 
Then  in  the  heavens  serene,  amid  the  clouds,  635 

Arms  are  seen  gleaming,  and  their  clang  is  heard. 
The  others  stand  amazed.     iEneas  knew 
The  sound,  and  promise  that  his  mother  gave. 
"  Seek  not,  my  host,"  he  says,  "seek  not  to  know 
The  event  these  prodigies  portend  :   't  is  I  Up 

The  heavens  demand.     This  is  the  promised  sign 
My  goddess  mother  gives,  should  war  impend, 
That  she  would  aid  me,  bringing  through  the  skies 
Vulcanian  arms.      But  ah,  what  carnage  dire 
Must  fall  upon  Laurentum's  wretched  sons!  m 


Book  vni. 

What  penalties,  0  Tumus,  must  thou  pay  ' 

What  shields  and  helmets  and  brave  forms  will  thou, 

0  father  Tiber,  roll  beneath  thy  waves! 

Now  raise  your  battle  cry,  and  break  your  leagu 

\\c  said,  and  from  his  throne  arose;  and  first  65o 

Stirs  on  the  altars  the  Herculean  tires 

That  smouldering  lay,  and,  light  of    heart,  draws  near 

The  household  gods  adored  the  day  before. 

Due  sacrifice  they  make  of  chosen  Bheep, 

Evander  and  the  Trojans  all  alike  ;  65S 

Then  to  his  ships  and  to  his  friends  returns. 

From  them  he  chooses  those  who  best  excel 

In  valorous  deeds,  to  follow  to  the  war; 

The  rest  tioat  down  the  river,  and  convey 

Tidings  to  young  Ascanius  of  his  sire  663 

And  ot   his  fortunes.      Horses  then  are  given 

To  those  whose  course  is  o'er  the  Tuscan  fields. 

A  nobler  steed  is  led  forth  for  their  chief, 

(J'er^pread  with  lion's  skin  and  gilded  claws. 

n  through  the  little  town  the  rumor  Spreads  "s 

That  to  the  shore>  of  the  Etrurian  kin 
A  band  ot    horsemen  rapidly  advaiu 

43 


338  The   sEneid. 

Then  matrons  in  their  fear  renew  their  vows. 

Terror  treads  closer  upon  Danger's  steps, 

And  Mars's  image  towers  a  larger  shape.  670 

Evander,  as  his  son  prepares  to  go, 

Grasping  his  hand,  clings  with  a  close  embrace, 

And,  weeping  unrelieving  tears,  thus  speaks:  — 

"Ah,  would  that  Jove  would  only  bring  again 
To  me  my  vanished  years,  as  once  I  was,  675 

When  underneath  Pra?neste's  walls  I  fought 
And  conquered ;   when  I  burned  whole  piles  of  shields, 
And  with  this  hand  sent  Herilus  to  death  ; 
To  whom  Feronia  his  mother  gave 

Three  lives,  and  weapons  thrice  in  battle  used!  680 

Three  deaths  it  took  to  slay  him.     Yet  so  oft 
I  slew  him,  and  so  oft  despoiled  of  arms. 
Then  from  thy  dear  embrace  I  should  not  thus, 
Dear  child,  be  torn  ;   nor  had  Mezentius  ever, 
Insulting  o'er  a  neighbor-chief,  thus  brought  6s5 

Such  deaths  and  devastations  on  our  towns. 
But  you,  O  gods!   and  thou,  supremest  Jove! 
Pity,  I  pray,  this  king  of  Arcady, 
And  hear  a  father's  prayers.      If  your  decree  — 
If  fate  preserve  my  Pallas  to  me,  safe,  6qc 

And  I  shall  live  to  meet  him  once  again, 


Book  viii. 

Then  life  I  a<k,  whatever  lot  I  endure. 

But  it  perchance  some  dread  disaster  frowns, 

Now,  now  release  me  from  this  cruel  life, 

\\  bile  hope  is  vague,  and  cares  hang  in  suspense,  — 

While  still  I  clasp  thee  to  my  heart,  dear  boy, 
Mv  latest  and  my  sole  delight, —  lest  neW8 
Too  heavy  to  be  borne  assail  my  ears  !  " 

Such  this  last  parting  of  the  sire  and  son. 
Then,  taint  and  overpowered,  they  bear  him  home.        700 

And  now  the  riders  through  the  open  gates 

Had  passed  ;   /Eneas  with  the  foremost  goes, 

And  trusty  Achates;   then  the  other  chiefs 

Of  Troy.      Pallas  himself  rode  in  the  midst, 

Conspicuous  with  his  scarf,  and  shield  adorned  705 

With  painted  emblems.      Like  the  Morning  Star, — 

By  Venus  more  beloved  than  all  the  fires 

Or  heaven,  —  when  wet  from  Ocean's  wave  he  lifts 

His  sacred  light,  and  melts  the  shades  away. 

The  timid  mothers  stand  upon  the  walls,  -■ 

And  follow  with  their  eyes  the  dusty  cloud 

And  glittering  squadrons.      They  through  bushes  SCOur, 

The  nearest  way.     Shouts  ring.     The  line  is  formed. 

Their  galloping  hoof-beats  shake  the  crumbling  plain. 


34°  The   Aineid. 

Near  Caere's  river  cold  a  spacious  grove  71s 

There  is,  to  all  around  a  sacred  place 
In  the  ancestral  faith,  enclosed  about 
By  hills  and  gloomy  firs.     'T  is  said  that  there 
Silvanus,  god  of  fields  and  flocks,  received 
Due  sacrifice  and  festal  rites  among  7" 

The  old  Pelasgians,  who  first  held  the  land. 
Hard  by,  the  Tuscan  bands  with  Tarchon  lay 
Encamped  secure;   their  legions  might  be  seen 
From  the  hill-top,  far  stretching  o'er  the  fields. 
./Eneas  and  his  warriors  to  this  spot  725 

Repair,  and  rest  their  limbs,  and  tend  their  steeds. 

But  Venus,  the  bright  goddess,  mid  the  clouds 

Had  now  drawn  near,  bearing  her  gifts.      Far  off 

She  saw  her  son  deep  in  a  vale,  alone 

By  the  cold  river,  and  appearing,  spake  :  n° 

"  See,  O  my  son,  the  promised  work  complete, 

Wrought  by  my  husband's  skill ;   nor  fear  thou  now 

To  challenge  to  the  fight  the  haughty  sons 

Of  Latium,  or  fierce  Turnus  to  confront." 

This  saying,  she  approached,  embraced  her  son,  735 

And  placed  the  radiant  arms  beneath  an  oak. 

He,  with  such  honors  and  such  gifts  elate, 


Book   nil.  3  j  i 

Glances  insatiate  over  every  pan ; 
:cs  in  wonder,  turning  in  hii  bands 

The  terrible  helmet  with  it-  Banning  ere  t,  •* 

The  fateful  sword  of  death,  the  corselet  huge 

Of  bronzy  bloody  hue,  as  when  a  cloud 

Burns  in  the  sunbeams  shining  from  afar; 

Also  the  polished  greaves  of  fine-wrought  gold; 

The  Spear;   and  then  the  shield,  whose  workmanship     -4; 

No  tongue  can  tell. 

The  fire-god,  not  unskilled 
In  prophet-lore,  and  of  the  times  to  come, 

I  wrought  the  Roman  triumphs  here,  the  events 
Of  Italy;   there  all  Ascanius'  line 
1    •  come,  and  all  the  wars  in  order  ranged. 
Here  lav  the  she-wolf  in  the  cave  of  Mars, 
And  hanging  round  her  udders  the  two  babes 
W  ere  playing,  tearless,  while  she  gave  them  suck, 
Or  bending  back  her  neck,  caressed  by  turns 
And  shaped  them  with  her  tongue.      Near  by  were  seen 
The  walls  ot   Rome;   the  Sabine  women  seized 
'Mid  the  Circensian  games,  with  lawless  hands  ; 
And  the  new  war  that  sudden  rose,  between 
The  men  of  Romulus,  and  Tatius  old. 
W  ith  his  rough  Cures.      Then,  when  war  is  o'er, 


342  The  Aineid. 

Before  Jove's  altars  stood  the  armed  kings, 

And  held  the  sacred  goblets,  while  with  blood 

Of  slaughtered  swine  they  join  in  friendly  league. 

Not  far  from  this,  was  Mettus  torn  apart 

By  chariots  twain,  four  horses  yoked  to  each  765 

(Alban,  thou  shouldst  have  kept  thy  plighted  faith)  ; 

And  Tullus,  who  the  traitor's  bleeding  flesh 

Dragged  through  the  thickets,  till  the  briers  dripped  blood; 

Also  Porsenna,  threatening  Rome  with  siege, 

Commands  that  banished  Tarquin  be  received.  770 

The  i^Eneadae  were  rushing  to  their  arms, 

For  liberty,  while  he,  as  with  a  threat, 

Indignant  stood,  that  Codes  dares  destroy 

The  bridge,  and  Cloelia  with  her  broken  chains 

Has  swum  the  river.     On  the  upper  part  77s 

The  guard  of  the  Tarpaean  citadel, 

Manlius,  stood  firm,  and  held  the  Capitol. 

The  royal  house  of  Romulus  was  seen, 

Rough  with  its  new-thatched  roof  of  bristling  straw. 

Here,  flying  through  the  gilded  porticos,  i%* 

A  silver  goose  announced  the  Gauls  were  near: 

They  through  the  thickets  had  approached,  and  held 

The  citadel,  by  night  and  darkness  screened  : 

Their  garments  and  their  hair  were  wrought  in  gold  : 


B  ' ok  i  in.  3  1 1 

In  -short  striped  cloakfl  they  shone  :    their  milk-white  m  I 

\\\-rc  ringed  with  gold  :  each  shook  two  Alpine 

And  wore  a  long  shield  to  protect  his  limbs. 

Here  were  depicted  dancing  Salii, 

Naked  Luperci,  and  the  wool-tipped  caps 

Of  flamens,  and  the  shields  that  fell  from  heaven.         790 

:.  through  the  streets  In  easy  carriai 
Chaste  matrons  a  devout  procession  led. 
Far  ofr"  were  seen  the  deep  Tartarean  realms 
Of  Dis;   the  penalties  of  crime;   and  thee, 
O  Cataline,  upon  a  frowning  cliff  79s 

Hanging  in  dread  suspense,  aghast  with  fear 
Before  the  Furies  :    then,  the  pious  souls 
Apart,  and  Cato  giving  laws  to  them. 
Midway,  a  picture  ot  the  sea,  in  gold, 

With  foaming  waves  of  silver,  was  inwrought  ;  800 

Bright  silvery  dolphins  through  the  waters  swept 
In  circling  course,  and  cut  the  frothy  tide. 
And  in  the  middle  of  the  sea  appeared 
The  tight  of  Actium,  and  the  brass-clad  fleets; 
And  all  Leucate  you  might  see  in  arms, 
And  the  waves  blazing  in  the  golden  sheen. 

I  here  Augustus  Caesar  led  to  war 
His  people,  and  the  fathers,  and  their  gods. 


344  The  Aineid. 

He  stands  upon  the  lofty  stern  ;  two  flames 

Play  round  his  brows;  the  star  that  led  his  sire  sio 

Shines  o'er  his  head.     Agrippa  marshals  there 

His  hosts,  impetuous,  with  propitious  winds 

And  auspices  ;  upon  the  conqueror's  brows 

A  golden  naval  crown  with  shining  beaks. 

There,  with  barbaric  allies,  and  with  arms  815 

Of  fashion  multiform,  comes  Antony, 

Victorious  from  the  East,  and  Indian  shores ; 

Egypt,  and  forces  of  the  Orient  lands 

He  brings,  and  distant  Bactra  ;   and  behind 

Follows  his  course  —  O  shame!  —  the  Egyptian  wife,   szo 

Onward  they  come  together,  and  the  waves 

Are  tossed  in  foam  beneath  their  long-drawn  oars 

And  trident  beaks :    as  though  the  Cyclades 

Uptorn  were  floating;  or  as  mountains  struck 

Together;  such  a  weight  of  tower-crowned  ships  t*i 

Was  urged  along.     They  hurl  the  blazing  tow, 

The  flying  steel  propel ;   the  watery  fields 

Redden  with  carnage  of  the  fight  begun. 

The  queen  with  ringing  sistrum  calls  to  arms, 

Nor  sees  behind  her  yet  the  serpents  twain.  830 

The  dog  Anubis,  and  all  monstrous  shapes 

Of  demigods,  with  weapons  drawn  oppose 


Boo  I    i  in.  3  |5 

Neptune,  and  Venus,  and  Minerva's  power. 
Mars  cased  tn  steel  is  raging  in  ihe  midst; 
The  Furies  fell  arc  there;  and  Discord  mov< 

icing,  with  her  mantle  rent.       Behind 

Bellona  follows  with  her  bloody  scourge. 
Actian  Apollo  from  above  beholds, 

1  bends  his  bow.      Then,  with  that  terror  smit, 
pt  and  India  and  Arabia  all  840 

Turn  back  and  fly.     The  queen  herself  was  seen 

tsening  the  ropes,  and  hoisting  sails  to  catch 
The  wind.      Here  had  the  fire-god  shown  how  she, 
Pale  with  the  thought  of  coming  death,  was  borne 
Amid  the  slaughter  on,  with  waves  and  Winds  ; 
While  sorrowing  Xilus  opened  wide  his  breast 
And  ample  robes,  and  called  them  to  his  arms, 
And  hid  the  vanquished  in  his  secret  waves 
Of   sheltering  blue.      But  Cavsar,  borne  along 
In  triple  triumph  to  the  Roman  walls,  850 

Here  to  the  gods  of  Italy  devotes 

Three  hundred  shrines.     With  games  and   joyous  shouts 
The  streets  are  ringing  ;   choirs  of  matrons  throng 
The  temples  ;    at  the  altars  victims  bleed. 
He  at  Apollo's  shining  gateway  sits, 
Reviews  the  gifts  of  nations,  and  hangs  up 
44 


346  The  JEneid. 

The  spoils  upon  the  lofty  temple  gates. 

The  conquered  tribes  in  long  procession  march, 

With  various  tongues,  and  various  garbs,  and  arms : 

Uncinctured  Africans  and  Nomads  wild,  860 

And  Carians,  and  Gelonians  armed  with  bows, 

And  Leleges.*    Euphrates'  waters  flow 

With  gentler  course.     The  far-off  Morini 

Are  seen  ;   the  two-horned  Rhine ;  the  Dahae  fierce ; 

And  the  Araxes'  stream  that  spurned  his  bridge.  s65 

Such  things  on  Vulcan's  shield,  his  mother's  gift, 

i^Eneas  scanned  in  wonder  ;  ignorant 

Of  all,  yet  with  the  imagery  moved 

To  joy,  upon  his  shoulders  he  uplifts 

The  fame  and  fates  of  his  posterity.  870 


BOOK    IX. 

*\\  rHILE  these  events  in  other  places  pi    ed, 

Iris  is  sent  by  Juno  from  the  skies 
To  valiant  Turn  us,     lie  within  a  iirove 

o 
By  chance  was  sitting,  once  his  ancestor's, 

Pilumnus,  in  a  consecrated  glen.  s 

I    i  whom,  with  rosy  lips,  Thaumantias  spoke:  — 

"Turnus,  what  none  of  all  the  gods  would  dare 

I    i  grant,  if  thou  shouldst  ask  it,  now,  behold, 

Revolving  time  brings  of  its  own  accord. 

His  city,  Beet,  and  friends  i'Eneas  leaves,  «o 

And  seeks  Evander's  kingdom  and  his  court. 

Nor  is  this  yet  enough  :   he  penetrates 

Cortona's  farthest  bounds;   the  Lydian  bands 

He  arms,  and  peasants  gathered  from  the  fields. 

Why  lingerest  thou?     Now  i>  the  time  to  call  «s 

1  or  chariots  and  for  steeds.      No  more  delay] 

But  seize  upon  thy  foe's  disordered  camp." 


348  The  yEneid. 

She  said,  and  toward  the  skies  she  spread  her  wings, 

And,  flying,  traced  her  rainbow  on  the  clouds. 

The  youth  knew  then  the  goddess,  and  his  hands  20 

Uplifted,  and  his  voice  thus  followed  her  :  — 

"  Iris,  thou  glory  of  the  sky,  who  sent 

To  me  thy  radiant  form,  so  swift  impelled 

Through  clouds?     Whence  comes  this  sudden  burst  of 

lignt  r 
I  see  the  heavens  break  open  in  the  midst,  *s 

And  stars  go  wandering  in  the  firmament. 
Such  omens  I  obey,  whoe'er  thou  art 
Who  callest  me  to  arms."     Then  to  the  stream 
He  goes,  and  scoops  the  water  with  his  hands, 
Invokes  the  gods,  and  loads  the  air  with  vows.  30 

And  now  his  army  moves  across  the  plains, 

Sumptuous  with  steeds  and  gold-embroidered  robes 

Messapus  leads  the  van,  and  Tyrrheus'  sons 

Support  the  rear ;  and  in  the  centre  rides 

Their  leader,  Turnus,  towering  in  his  arms.  3s 

So  with  its  seven  peaceful  channels  swells 

The  deep  and  silent  Ganges,  or  the  Nile, 

Back  from  the  fields  with  fertilizing  wave 

Flowing,  then  shrinking  to  its  wonted  course. 


Book   /.v.  345 

The  Trojans  now  behold  I  Midden  cloud  4© 

Of  dust  ari.se,  and  darken  all  the  fields. 

Ami  first  Caicus  from  the  mound  in  front, 

1  Kclaims:  "What  means  this  black  and  rolling  ma 

Quick,  —  bring  your  swords,  your  BpeajS,  and   mount  the 

walls! 
Behold,  the  enemy  I  "     Then  with  a  shout  45 

The  Trojans  enter,  and  bar  up  the  gates, 
And  man  the  ramparts.      Such  was  the  command 
./Eneas,  skilled  in  arms,  departing,  gave, 
That  should  such  chance  occur,  they  must  not  dare 
A  battle  in  the  open  field;  but  keep  50 

W  ithin  their  camp  and  mounded  walls,  secure. 
So  though  disposed  by  anger  and  by  shame 
To  meet  the  foe  in  conflict,  they  obey 
His  wise  commands,  and  making  fast  their  gates, 
Within  their  towers,  well  armed,  they  await  the  attack.   55 

Tumus,  who  sped  with  riving  pace  before 

lli-  tardv  troops,  a  chosen  band  with  him 

Or   twenty  horsemen,  unforeseen  approached. 

On  a  white-Spotted  Thracian  steed  he  rode; 

His  helmet  i.s  of  gold,  with  flaming  crest. 

"  And  which  ot   vou,  O  youth*,"  he  cries,  "  with  me 


350  The  Aineid. 

Will  first  attack  the  foe  ?     Behold  !  "     With  that 

He  hurled  a  javelin  through  the  air;  and  thus 

Began  the  battle ;  then  across  the  field 

He  gallops.     With  a  shout  his  comrades  join,  65 

And  follow  him  with  fearful  battle-cries ; 

And  wonder  at  the  Trojans'  timid  hearts, 

Who  will  not  take  the  field  in  open  fight, 

But  cling  to  their  encampment.      Round  the  walls, 

Now  here,  now  there,  the  chieftain  rides,  and  seeks         70 

An  entrance;  like  a  wolf  that  raging  prowls 

About  the  folds,  exposed  to  winds  and  rains 

At  midnight,  while  the  bleating  lambs  lie  safe 

Beneath  their  mothers,  and,  enraged  and  fierce, 

Snarls  at  the  prey  he  cannot  reach,  impelled  75 

By  long  mad  hunger  that  drains  dry  his  throat. 

So  the  Rutulian,  gazing  at  the  walls 

And  camp,  his  anger  burns  through  all  his  limbs. 

How  find  an  entrance,  how  dislodge  his  foes 

Intrenched  behind  their  ramparts,  forcing  them  80 

To  fight  on  equal  terms  ?     The  fleet  that  lay 

Concealed  beside  the  camp,  girt  round  with  banks 

And  channels,  he  determines  to  assail. 

To  his  exulting  comrades  then  he  calls 

For  fire,  and  grasps  a  flaming  pine-wood  torch.  85 


B  '/•   ix. 


i 


Then  to  their  work,  by  Turnus'  pi 
Tin  !1  armed  with  brands:  the)  rob  the  h< 

The  smoking  torches  glare  with  pitchy  flame  , 
,1  to  the  stars  ascend  the  fiery  Bpark 

Ye  Me  what  god  averted  then 

Such  dreadful  burning  from  the  Trojan  ships. 
Though  ancient  the  belief  in  this  event, 
The  tame  thereof  forever  shall  endure. 

When  upon  Phrygian  [da  /Eneas  first 

lli    fleet  was  building,  with  intent  to  sail,  9$ 

The  Berecynthian  mother  o(  th 

'T  1-  ~.'.ui,  thus  made  appeal  to  mighty   Jove:  — 

"  1  irant  now,  my  son,  a  boon  thy  parent  dear 

I  I  imands  of  thee,  the  ruler  o\    the  ski) 

A  grove  of  pines,  cherished  for  many  yeai  ,  i<x> 

mine,  on  Ida's  summit,  where  to  me 
rings  and  sacred  rites  were  paid  ;   a  place 

Darkened  by  tir-trex^  and  by  maple  boughs. 

These  to  the  Dardan  warrior  in  his  need 

I  gladly  gave,  wherewith  to  build  his  fleet. 

Hut  now  my  heart  is  sad  with  anxious  feai 
thou  dispel  them:   grant  this  to  my  pray< 


352  The  Aineid. 

That  by  their  voyage  they  may  ne'er  be  shaken, 

Or  overwhelmed  by  any  stormy  wind. 

Let  it  avail,  that  on  our  mount  they  grew."  no 

To  whom  her  son  who  rolls  the  heavenly  orbs 

Made  answer  :   "  Whither  dost  thou  call  the  fates, 

O  mother  ?     What  demandest  thou  for  these, 

Thy  ships  ?     Can  they,  by  hands  of  mortals  built, 

Enjoy  immortal  rights?     And  shall  iEneas,  "s 

Certain  to  win,  pass  through  uncertain  straits 

Of  danger  ?     To  what  god  was  ever  power 

Like  this  allowed  ?     Nay,  rather,  when  their  course 

Is  ended,  and  they  reach  the  Ausonian  ports, 

What  vessels  shall  escape  the  storms,  and  bear  no 

The  Trojan  leader  to  the  Italian  shores, 

Their  mortal  forms  I  then  will  change  to  shapes 

Of  sea-nymphs,  cleaving  with  their  breasts  the  waves 

Like  Doto,  or  like  Galatea."     Thus 

He  spoke,  and  sealed  his  promise  by  appeal  125 

To  his  dread  brother's  Stygian  streams  of  fire ; 

The  torrents,  and  black  gulfs  of  whirling  pitch. 

And  as  he  nodded,  all  Olympus  thrilled. 

So  now  the  promised  day  at  length  had  come, — 

The  destined  time  completed  by  the  fates;  130 


Book  i\. 


5  5  J 


When  the  assault  oi  Turnus  on  the  ships 
\\  irned  the  great  mother  to  defend  from  flan 
Their  consecrated  wood.     And  first  a  fla  h 

I  their  eyes  with  unaccustomed  light; 
And  from  the  east  a  great  cloud  streamed  acr<  ns 

The  heavens,  and  the  Idaean  bands  appeared  ; 
i  through  the  air  there  rang  an  awful  VON 
That  filled  both  armies:    "Trojans,  make  no  haste 
I       eize  your  weapons  and  defend  your  -hips. 
Turnus  shall  burn  the  seas  before  his  hand  140 

Can  touch  my  sacred  pines.     Go  forth,  released 
And  Tree,  as  goddesses  of  ocean  go! 
It  i<  the  mother  of  the  gods  commands!  " 
Then  all  at  once  the  vessels  snap  their  cords, 
And  with  their  plunging  beaks  like  dolphins  dive  '45 

•ath  the  wave-  ;    thence,  wondrous  prodigy, 
As  many  virgin  forms  arise  to  view 
And  swim  upon  the  surface  or   the  sea, 

n  the  beach,  before,  stood  brazen  prows. 

Amazement  seized  the  Rutuli  ;   and  e'en 

Messapus,  with  his  rearing  horses,  quailed. 

The  Tiber,  hoarsely  Bounding,  checked  his  wav.<   . 

And  backward  from  the  deep  retraced  his  COU 
45 


354  The   sEneid. 

But  Turnus  fears  not,  confident  and  bold. 

Yet  more,  he  lifts  their  courage  with  his  words,  15s 

Yea,  even  chides.     "These  prodigies,"  he  cries, 

"Are  for  the  Trojans  meant;  and  Jove  himself 

Snatches  away  their  wonted  means  of  help. 

They  wait  not  for  Rutulian  fires  and  swords, 

These  ships  of  theirs.     So  now  the  seas  for  them  160 

Are  pathless,  for  their  hopes  of  flight  are  gone. 

One  half  of  their  success  is  lost  to  them: 

The  land  is  in  our  hands.     The  Italian  tribes 

Bring  their  armed  thousands.     They  affright  me  not, 

These  answers  of  the  gods,  whate'er  they  be,  165 

The  Phrygians  boast.     Enough  that  it  was  given 

To  Venus  and  the  Fates,  that  they  should  reach 

The  Ausonian  shores.  -  I  also  have  my  fate 

Allotted,  to  destroy  the  accursed  race, 

Now  that  my  bride  is  torn  from  me.  '  That  grief  170 

Touches  not  Atreus'  sons  alone,  nor  Greeks 

Alone  for  such  a  cause  appeal  to  arms. 

Yet  to  have  perished  once  should  be  enough  : 

Enough  to  have  committed  once  the  offence 

That  should  have  made  them  loathe  all  woman-kind.    175 

And  these  the  men  whose  courage  is  sustained 

By  rampart  interposed,  and  baffling  trench, 


B    '/•    ix.  355 


Their  slight  partition  between  them  tnd  death. 

And  yet  have  they  not  seen  their  wall,  of  Troy, 

Though  built  by  Neptune's  hands,  sink  down  in  tlann 

Hut  you,  O  chosen  warriors,  which  o(  you  i  i 

Will  rend  their  palisades,  and  dare  with  me 
I     invade  their  trembling  camp?     No  armor  wrought 

By  Vulcan,  nor  a  countless  fleet,  I  need 

i list  these  Trojans.      Let  Ktruria  send 
All  her  strong  allies*     Ay,  they  need  not  fear 
The  darkness, 'the  Palladium's  coward  theft, 

The  keepers  of  the  citadel  struck  down  : 
Nor  that  within  the  hollow  o\   a  horse 
We  hide.      In  open  daylight  we  resolve  19 

To  ring  their  ramparts  round  about  with  fire. 
Soon  shall  I  make  them  think,  that  not  with  Greeks 
And  raw  Pelasgian  youths  they  have  to  deal, 
Such  as  their  Hector  toiled  for  ten  long  Years. 
And  now,  since  the  best  portion  of  the  day 
U  passed,  give  the  remaining  hours  to  rot, 
O  warriors,  well  content  that  all  succeed-. 
To-morrow  morn  stand  ready  lor  the  battle." 

Meanwhile  the  charge  to  place  the  sentinels 
About  the  gate-,  and  watch-fires  round  the  walls, 


356  The   Aineid. 

Is  given  to  Messapus.     He  selects 

Twice  seven  Rutulian  men  to  guard  the  fort; 

And  following  each  there  come  a  hundred  youths 

With  purple  crests,  and  glittering  with  gold. 

They  shift  their  places,  and  relieve  the  guard  ;  205 

And  scattered  o'er  the  sward,  their  wine-cups  drain. 

The  camp-fires  blaze  around  ;   the  sleepless  night 

Is  given  up  to  revelry  and  sport. 


All  this  the  Trojans  from  their  ramparts  see, 

And  man  their  walls;   with  fear  they  test  their  gates,     210 

And  bridge  the  space  'twixt  outwork,  walls,  and  tower, 

And  bring  supplies  of  weapons  for  defence. 

Mnestheus  and  brave  Serestus  urge  the  work. 

To  them,  should  adverse  fortune  so  require, 

/Eneas  had  intrusted  the  command  215 

Of  all  affairs.     The  band  entire  keeps  watch 

Along  the  walls,  the  common  danger  shares; 

Each  takes  his  turn,  where'er  defence  they  need. 

Nisus  was  keeper  of  the  gate,  the  son 
Of  Hyrtacus,  —  a  valiant  youth  in  war,  *«> 

And  swift  with  javelin  and  with  flying  arrows;  — 
Sent  by  the  huntress  Ida  to  attend 


Book   /.v.  357 

/Eneas.     At  his  side  Euryalus, 

Than  whom  no  youth  more  beautiful  was  seen 

Among  the  Trojans,  bearing  Trojan  arm    : 

As  yet  a  beardless  boy.     These  two  were  bound 

In  closest  ties  of  love,  and  side  by  side 

Had  rushed  together  to  the  battle-field; 

Now  at  the  gate  they  held  one  equal  post. 

Then  Nisus  said  :   "  Is  it  the  gods  who  give  »3^> 

This  ardor  to  our  minds,  Euryalus? 

And  must  our  strong  desires  be  deemed  divine? 

Either  to  battle  or  some  great  emprise 

Mv  soul  is  urging  me,  and  will  not  rest. 

Thou  seest  what  confidence  possesses  all  235 

The  Rutuli  ;   their  camp-hres  here  and  there 

Are  feeMv  glimmering.      Sunk  in  sleep  and  wine 

Thev  lie;   and  far  and  wide  their  posts  are  hushed. 

Hear  now  the  thought  that  rises  in  my  mind. 

Our  leaders  and  our  ranks  with  one  accord 

Ask  for  ./Eneas'  presence,  and  that  men 

Be  sent,  who  shall  report  to  him  the  truth. 

If  now  thev  promise  what  I  ask  for  thee, 

I  lor  me  the  glory  of  the  deed  is  all 

I  seek),  I  think  that  I  can  find  a  way 

'Neath  yonder  hill  to  Pallanteum's  walls." 


358  The  Aineid. 

Amazement  seized  upon  Euryalus, 

Struck  with  the  love  of  praise  that  fired  his  friend. 

Then  thus  he  answered:   "Canst  thou  then  refuse 

To  suffer  me  in  enterprise  so  great  250 

To  attend  thee  ?     Shall  I  let  thee  risk  alone 

Perils  like  these  ?     It  was  not  thus  my  sire 

Opheltes,  long  inured  to  toils  of  war, 

Taught  me  amid  the  Grecian  terrors  reared, 

And  sufferings  of  Troy ;  nor  have  I  ever,  255 

Following  the  great  iEneas  and  his  fates 

Extreme,  so  borne  myself,  when  in  thy  sight. 

Here  in  my  breast  there  is  a  soul  whose  aim 

Despises  life,  and  deems  its  sacrifice 

Small  payment  for  that  glory  which  thou  seek'st."  260 

Nisus  replied  :   "  Nay,  not  to  thee,  indeed, 

Would  I  impute  such  thoughts.      It  were  unjust. 

So  may  great  Jove,  or  whosoever  looks 

Upon  our  actions  with  impartial  eyes, 

Bring  me  in  triumph  back  again  to  thee.  265 

But  if,  —  for,  in  a  crisis  such  as  this, 

Thou  knowest  well  there  must  be  many  a  risk,  — 

If  any  adverse  fortune  or  the  gods 

Should  intervene,  I  would  have  thee  survive 


Book    i.\.  359 

Thv  friend:  thy  years  arc  worthier  of  life. 
Let  there  be  one  to  lay  me  in  m\  grave, 
Snatched  from  the  battle,  or  by  ran  om  won. 

H Lit  it",  as  she  is  wont,  Fortune  forbids 
This  favor,  let  him  to  my  absent  corpse 
Give  funeral  rites  and  fitting  sepulchre. 

\    r  let  me  be  the  cause  of  hitter  grief", 
Mv  boy,  to  a  wretched  mother,  who  alone, 
Of  many  mothers,  dared  to  go  with  thee, 
Nor  cared  to  stay  in  great  Acestes'  home." 

But  he  replied  :   "  In  vain  these  useless  knots  »8o 

Of  argument.      Mv  purpose  does  inn  yield. 
Come,  let  us  hasten  !  "      And  with  that  he  wakes 
The  sentinels,  who  take  their  turn  on  guard. 
Then  both  together  go  to  seek  the  prince. 

All  other  living  creatures  lay  relaxed 
In  sleep,  forgetting  sufferings  and  cares. 
But  the  chief  leaders  and  the  chosen  vouths 
Of   Troy  were  holding  counsel  on  affairs 
Ol   moment;   how  they  should  proceed,  and  who 
The  messenger  should  be  to  seek  &neas. 
Within  the  camp  thev  stood,  holding  their  shiel 
And  leaning  on  their  spears.      Together  then 


360  The   Aineid. 

Come  Nisus  and  Euryalus,  and  ask 

Admittance  eagerly,  —  the  matter  grave, 

Repaying  the  delay  it  would  demand.  295 

lulus  meets  the  excited  youths,  and  bids 

The  elder  speak.     Then  Nisus  thus  begins:  — 

"  Hear  with  impartial  minds,  O  Trojan  chiefs, 

And  judge  not  by  our  years  what  we  propose. 

The  Rutuli  lie  sunk  in  sleep  and  wine.  3°° 

We  have  found  a  place  fit  for  our  secret  plan, 

Upon  the  double  road  beyond  the  gates 

Lying  nearest  to  the  sea.     Their  smoking  fires 

Burn  low.      If  you  permit  us  now  to  use 

This  chance,  we  '11  seek  ^Eneas,  and  the  walls  3°s 

Of  Pallanteum.     Soon  we  shall  return 

With  spoils,  a  mighty  slaughter  being  wrought. 

We  cannot  miss  the  way,  for  we  have  seen 

While  hunting  oft  the  outskirts  of  the  town 

Gleam  through  the  shady  valleys,  and  we  know  310 

The  river-shore  entire."     Aletes  then, 

Old  and  mature  in  thought,  made  answer  thus:  — 

"Ye  gods,  in  whose  protecting  presence  Troy 

Has  ever  been,  not  altogether  doomed 

To  ruin  is  our  Trojan  race,  while  such  3's 

The  valiant  souls,  the  hearts  assured  ye  send!  " 


Book   ix. 

aying,  he  threw  his  arms  around  their  necks. 
And  grasped  their  hands,  while  tears  streamed  down  hi 

race. 
*•  \wA  what  reward^,  o  warrior  youths,"  he  cried, 

"  What  gifts  for  such  brave  deeds   can  we  requite  : 
The  gods  and  your  own  virtues  will  bestow 
The  best  and  fairest.      But  /Kncas  soon 
Will  give  the  rest ;  and  young  Ascanius  too 
Will  ne'er  forget  such  high  desert  as  yours." 
MNay,  never,"  here  Ascanius  took  the  word;  3*s 

"  I  whose  sole  hope  is  in  my  sire's  return  ; 
Nisus,  by  all  our  country's  household  gods, 
The  Lares  of  Assaracus,  the  shrines 
Of  venerable  Vesta,  I  appeal 

To  you  ;   whate'er  my  fortune  and  my  hope,  330 

I  lav  it  in  your  faithful  breasts.     BriiiL:  back 
Mv  ,Mre;   then  nothing  can  be  sad  to  me. 
Two  fine-wrought  silver  goblets  richly  chased 
With  figures,  which  mv  father  took  as  spoils, 
When  he  subdued  Arisba,  I  will  give; 
Abo  a  pair  of  tripods,  and  of  gold 
Two  weighty  talents,  and  an  antique  cup, 
Sidonian  Dido's  gift.      And  if  we  take 
Italia,  and  the  sceptre  of  the  realm, 
46 


362  The   Aineid. 

And  distribution  make  of  spoils,  — ye  have  seen  340 

The  steed  that  Turnus  rode,  his  armor  bright 

With  gold ;  that  steed,  that  shield,  that  flaming  crest, 

Nisus,  I  set  apart  for  thy  reward. 

Besides,  twelve  chosen  female  slaves  my  sire 

Will  give,  twelve  captives  with  their  arms,  and  add        345 

To  these  whatever  lands  Latinus  owns. 

But  thou,  O  youth  worthy  of  worship,  thou 

Whose  years  are  nearer  mine,  with  my  whole  heart 

I  take  thee,  and  embrace  thee,  through  all  change 

Of  fortune  my  companion.     Without  thee  350 

No  glory  will  I  seek  in  peace  or  war ; 

Such  trust  I  place  in  thee  and  in  thy  words." 

To  this  Euryalus  made  answer  thus:  — 

"No  coming  day  shall  ever  prove  me  averse 

To  daring  deeds  like  this  :   I  promise  this,  35s 

Let  Fortune  smile  or  frown.     But  above  all, 

One  boon  I  beg.     I  have  a  mother,  born 

Of  Priam's  ancient  race,  who  came  with  me 

To  Italy.     Troy  could  not  hold  her  back, 

Nor  King  Acestes'  walls.     I  leave  her  now,  360 

Without  one  farewell  kiss,  and  knowing  naught 

Of  this  my  dangerous  venture.     By  the  night, 

And  by  this  hand  I  grasp,  I  could  not  bear 


Book   ix. 

A  mother's  tears.     But  thou,  I  beg,  do  thou 
C  nsole  her  in  her  Deed,  and  succor  her 
Bereft  of  me.     This  hope  let  me  Indulge. 
So  shall  I  race  more  bravely  every  peril." 

The  Dardan  warriors  all  were  moved  to  te.r 
lulus  more  than  all  :    his  heart  w.b  wrung 
By  such  strong  filial  love.      Then  thus  he  spoke:  — 
"  Be  sure  ot   all  thy  hrave  attempt  deserv*   . 
Thy  mother  shall  be  mine,  and  only  lack 
Creusa's  name.      Nor  slight  our  thanks  to  her 
For  such  a  son.     Whate'er  befalls,  I  swear, 
Here  by  this  head,  the  oath  my  father  swore, — 
That  it*  thou  comest  back,  and  with  success, 
That  which  I  promise  thee  shall  be  alike 
He-towed  upon  thy  mother  and  thy  kin." 
Weeping  he  spoke;   and  from  his  shoulder  loosed 
A  gilded  sword,  Lvcaon's  wondrous  art  38j 

Had  wrought,  and  fitted  in  an  ivory  sheath. 
To  Nisus  Mnestheus  gives  a  lion's  skin 
With  shaggy  hair.      Aletes  makes  exchange 
Of  helmets.      Thus  equipped,  forthwith  they  go; 
While  to  the  gates  the  leaders,  young  ami  old, 
Attend  their  steps  with  wishes  and  with  prayers, 
lulus  with  a  mind  and  manly  thought 


364  The   Aineid. 

Beyond  his  years,  gives  many  messages 

Sent  to  his  father,  but  in  vain  :   the  winds 

Dispersed  them  all  and  gave  them  to  the  clouds.  39° 

They  cross  the  trenches,  and  through  shades  of  night 

Toward  the  hostile  camp  pursue  their  way, 

Fatal  to  many  ere  their  own  fate  came. 

Scattered  about  they  see  their  enemies 

Stretched  on  the  grass,  o'ercome  with  sleep  and  wine.    395 

Along  the  shore  stood  chariots  with  their  poles 

Upturned.     Between  the  harness  and  the  wheels 

Lay  men,  and  armor,  mixed  with  jars  of  wine. 

Then  Nisus  whispered:   "Now,  Euryalus, 

The  deed  calls  on  us  for  a  daring  hand.  4°° 

Here  lies  our  way.     Thou,  lest  some  foe  behind 

Should  strike,  watch  close,  look  well  afar,  while  I 

Lay  waste,  and  open  a  wide  path  for  thee." 

With  voice  suppressed  he  spoke.     Then  with  his  sword 
Strikes  at  proud  Rhamnes,  stretched  upon  a  pile  4°5 

Of  carpets,  breathing  heavily  in  sleep. 
A  prince  he  was,  and  Turnus'  favorite  seer. 
But  not  with  augury  could  he  ward  off 
The  fatal  blow.     Near  him  three  slaves,  who  lay 
Confusedly  amid  their  arms,  he  slays  :  410 


Book   ix.  365 

'Flu-  armor-bearer  and  the  charioteer 

Of  Remus  next,  beneath  his  horse' 

Hi^  head  be  severs  from  his  drooping  neck; 

His  master's  then  he  hears  away,  and  lea\ 

The  trunk  that  heaves  and  gurgles  with  it>  blood. 

The  earth  is  warm  with  black  ami  bloody  gore, 

Ami  all  the  couches  drip.      Then  Lamyrus, 

Ami  Lamus,  and  the  young  Serranus  fell, — 

The  handsome  youth,  who  long  ami  heavily 

Had  played  that  night,  ami,  overcome  by  wine  4*0 

And  sleep,  was  lying;    happy  had  he  then 

Prolonged  His  play  until  the  morning  light. 

Such  carnage  fell,  as  when  a  lion,  mad 

With  hunger,  spreads  wild  terror  through  the  sheep 

Amid  the  crowded  fold,  and  bites  and  tears 

With  bloody  jaws  the  tender  flocks,  all  dumb 

With  fear.      Nor  less  Euryalus,  inflamed, 

Deals  death  around  amid  the  nameless  crowd. 

I  US,  Herbesus,  Abaris,  meet  their  late, 
Unconscious:   Rhoetus  too,  who,  wide  awake, 
Sees  all,  but  trembling  hides  behind  the  bowls. 
Thence,  as  he  rises,  deep  within  his  brea  t 
The  sword  is  plunged,  and,  steeped  in  death,  withdrawn. 
Out  pours  the  crimson  life-blood  mixed  with  wine. 


366  The  sEneid. 

The  other  presses  on,  warm  with  his  work  435 

Of  stealthy  slaughter,  toward  Messapus'  bands, 

Where  he  observes  the  fires  are  burning  low, 

And  tethered  horses  browsing  in  the  grass. 

Then  briefly  Nisus  spoke  :   for  he  perceived 

How  their  desire  to  kill  was  bearing  them  440 

Too  far  :   "  Let  us  desist.     The  dawn  is  near, 

Unfriendly  to  our  purpose.      Deaths  enough 

Are  dealt.     A  way  is  opened  through  our  foes." 

Full  many  a  piece  of  solid  silver  wrought 

They  leave  behind,  and  bowls,  and  armor  bright,  445 

And  sumptuous  carpets.     Here,  the  trappings  rich 

Of  Rhamnes,  and  his  golden-studded  belt, 

Euryalus  puts  on  ;  a  gift  once  sent 

By  Caedicus  to  Remulus,  when  he 

Made  league  with  him  through  hospitable  rites.  45° 

After  his  death,  the  Rutuli  in  war 

Obtained  it.     These  Euryalus  now  takes, 

And  round  his  shoulders  binds  the  spoils,  in  vain  : 

Puts  on  Messapus'  helmet  rich  with  plumes; 

Then  from  the  camp  to  a  safe  place  they  go.  455 

Meanwhile  a  mounted  troop  was  moving  on 
From  Latium's  city,  a  detachment  sent 


Book  i\.  67 

From  the  main  legion  lingering  on  ihe  pi 

Bearing  a  message  to  Prince  Turnus,     Th 

Three  hundred  horsemen,  Vol  cens  at  their  hea  1, 

All  armed  with  shields,  were  drawing  ni  h  the  camp. 

When  far  off  they  espy  the  pair,  who  turned 

Upon  the  left;  for  glimmering  in  the  night 

The  helmet  of  Kurv.ilns  betrayed 

The  unconscious  youth,  and  gleamed  1         I  the  m 

N  >t  idly  unobserved.     "Stand!"  Volscens  shout 

"What  men  are  ye?      Why  come  ye  here  in  am 

I  whither  are  ye  going?  "      No  reply 
They  made;    hut  swiftly  toward  the  woods  they  tied, 
Trusting  the  friendly  night.      The  horsemen  haste  4-3 

To  block  their  passage  on  the  well-known  paths, 
And  on  both  sides  guard  every  avenue 
Against  escape.      There  was  a  forest  dark, 

lg ;h  with  wild  bushes  and  black  ilex-tree- 
And  tangled  underbrush.      At  intervals  4-5 

A  pathway  dimly  seen  ran  through  the  wood. 
The  darkness  and  the  heavy  spoil,  he  bore 
Impede  Ruryalus,  and  in  his  fear 
He  now  mistakes  his  wav.      NlSUS  tlies  on, 

I  taking  thought,  and   past  his  enemy 
Had  sped,  and  reached  the  groves  that  since  were  calle  1 


368  The   Aineid. 

The  Alban, —  then  they  were  the  lofty  stalls 

For  King  Latinus'  herds.     Soon  as  he  stopped, 

And  backward  looked,  in  vain,  to  find  his  friend, 

"  Euryalus  !  "   he  cries  ;   "  ah,  woe  is  me,  4S5 

Where  have  I  left  thee  ?     How  shall  I  retrace 

The  windings  of  the  dark  deceptive  wood?" 

Then  back  on  his  remembered  steps  he  treads, 

And,  wandering  through  the  silent  bushes,  hears 

The  tramp  of  horses,  and  the  noise  of  men  490 

Pursuing  ;   in  a  little  while,  a  shout ; 

And  sees  Euryalus,  whom  now,  deceived 

By  darkness  and  the  place,  the  entire  brigade 

Surrounds  and  seizes,  with  a  sudden  rush, 

And  drags  him  on,  while  struggling  hard  in  vain.  49s 

What  shall  he  do?     With  what  force  shall  he  dare 

To  rescue  him  ?     Rush  in  among  their  swords, 

And  so  precipitate  a  glorious  death  ? 

Quick,  brandishing  a  javelin,  to  the  Moon 

Above  he  lifts  his  eyes,  while  thus  he  prays :  —  s°° 

"  Thou,  goddess,  thou,  the  glory  of  the  stars, 

Latonian  guardian  of  the  woods,  be  near, 

And  to  my  arm  give  now  propitious  aid  ! 

If  ever  on  thy  altars  Hyrtacus 

My  sire  laid  gifts  for  me,  if  I  myself  s°s 


ft i  '< '/'     /  X. 

Have  added  anything  brought  from  the  ch 
Hung  'neath  tin-  vaulted  ceiling,  or  affixed 
Upon  thy  sacred  pediment,  direct 
My  weapon,  that  I  may  disperse  this  band!" 

He  said,  and  with  the  strength  of  all  his  frame  s«° 

He  hurled  his  steel.     Swift  through  the  dark  it  sped, 
And  pierced  the  back  of  Sulmo,  and  there  snapped, 
The  broken    javelin  passing  to  his  heart, 
lie  tails,  the  warm  blood  rushes  from  his  breast, 

I  his  sides  heave  with  long  convulsive  sob  5>s 

On  every  side  they  look;   when  lo !  again 
Another  spear  drawn  back,  then  whizzing  riies; 
And  through  both  temples  smitten,  TagUS  tails, 
The  glowing  weapon  buried  in  his  brain. 

rcc  Volsccns  rages,  nor  can  he  detect 
The  enemy,  nor  know  on  whom  to  turn. 
"Thou  then,"  he  cries,  "with  thy  warm  blood  shalt  pay 
For  both  !  "      And  on  Eurvalus  he  turns 
W  1th  naked  sword.     Hut  Nisus,  terrified, 

ide  himself  with  fear,  no  longer  hides 
In  darkness,  nor  can  bear  a  pang  like  this. 
11  Me,  me;    't  is  I,"  lie  crie^,  "who  did  the  deed! 
On  me  direct  your  steel,  O  kutuli  I 

47 


3  jo  The   Aineid. 

The  offence  is  mine  alone.     He  did  no  harm, 

He  could  not !     Yonder  sky  and  conscious  stars  53° 

Bear  witness  that  the  words  I  speak  are  true. 

He  only  loved  too  much  his  hapless  friend  !  " 

So  Nisus  spoke  :   too  late  ;   the  sword  was  plunged 

Deep  in  the  white  breast  of  Euryalus. 

He  writhes  beneath  his  death-wound,  and  the  blood      535 

Flows  o'er  his  shapely  limbs.     Upon  his  breast 

His  sinking  head  reclines.     As  when  a  plough 

Cuts  down  a  purple  flowret  of  the  field, 

It  languishes  and  dies;  or  beaten  down 

By  rain  the  poppies  bend  their  weary  heads.  540 

But  Nisus  rushes  on  his  enemies. 

Volscens  alone  among  them  all  he  seeks. 

They,  thronging  close  around  him,  thrust  him  back. 

But  none  the  less  he  presses  on,  and  whirls 

His  flashing  sword,  till  in  the  clamoring  throat  54s 

Of  the  Rutulian  chief  he  plunged  the  steel, 

And,  dying,  dealt  a  death-blow  to  his  foe. 

Then  on  the  lifeless  body  of  his  friend 

He  throws  himself,  pierced  through  with  many  a  wound, 

And  there,  at  last,  in  placid  death  he  slept.  550 

Ay,  happy  pair  !     If  aught  my  verse  can  do, 
No  lapse  of  time  shall  ever  dim  your  fame, 


B 


ix.  371 


While  on  the  Capitol's  unshaken  rock 
The  house  .i.iR-.is  founded  Bhall  remain, 
And  while  the  Roman  father  holds  the  state. 

The  Rutull,  victorious  seize  the  sp< 

Ami  weeping  hear  their  dead  chief  to  the  camp. 

Here  too  was  mourning  over  Rhamnes  slain, 

I  young  Scrranus  and  the  rest,  their  first 
And  noblest,  by  one  slaughter  all  despatched. 

Thev  throne  to  see  the  dying  and  the  dead, — 

The  place  still  warm  with  carnage,  and  the  streams 

Of  blood.      In  turn  thev  recognize  the  spoils; 

The  glittering  helmet  of  Messapus  know, 

And  trappings  rich,  recovered  with  such  toil.  y     s« 


€ 


Now  from  Tithonus*  saffron  bed  the  Dawn 
Arose,  and  shed  fresh  light  upon  the  earth, 
And  pouring  In  his  rays,  the  sun  revealed 
All  hidden  things  ;    when  Turnus  stirs  to  arms 
IIi>  warriors  all,  himself  completely  armed. 
Each  urges  to  the  battle  his  mailed  troops, 
Whetting  their  rage  with  various  reports.         ^L_ 
\     '.,  on  their  lifted  -pears,  ah,  woful  sight! 
The  heads  of  Nisus  and  Kuryalus 


72 


The   Aineid. 


575 


Are  fixed,  while  shouting  crowds  follow  behind. 

The  hardy  sons  of  Troy  confront  their  foes 

Upon  the  left  side  of  their  walls  ;   their  right 

Is  bounded  by  the  river.      Here  they  guard 

Their  trenches  broad,  and  stand  with  gloomy  thoughts 

Upon  their  lofty  towers ;   and  horror-struck  580 

Behold  those  lifted  heads  that  drip  with  gore, 

Known  but  too  well  to  their  unhappy  friends. 


Rumor,  meanwhile,  the  winged  messenger, 

Flies  through  the  trembling  camp,  and  reaches  now 

The  mother  of  Euryalus.     A  chill 

Curdles  her  blood.     The  shuttle  and  the  web 

Drop  from  her  hands.      Rending  her  hair  she  flies 

With  wild  shrieks  to  the  walls  and  foremost  line, 

Heedless  of  danger  and  of  flying  darts. 

Her  wailing  fills  the  air.      "Euryalus, 

Do  I  behold  thee  thus!  —  thou  the  delight 

And  solace  of  my  old  age,  couldst  thou  thus 

Leave  me  alone,  —  ah,  cruel!  —  and  depart 

On  such  a  perilous  mission,  and  no  word 

At  parting  to  thy  wretched  mother  speak  ? 

Ah,  woe  is  me!     On  unknown  earth  thou  liest, 

A  prey  to  vultures  and  to  Latian  dogs  ; 


585 


590 


595 


Book    IX. 


Nor  could  thy  mother  give  thee  funeral  rites, 

\  >r  ^losc  thy  dying  eves,  nor  wash  thy  wounds, 

Nor  cover  thee  with  the  robe,  which  night  and  day       600 

I  wove  with  urgent  haste,  and  with  my  loom 

Lightened  old  age's  lonely  thoughts  and  cares. 

Where  shall  I  seek  thee  now  ?      Where  find  those  limbs 

Dissevered,  and  that  lacerated  corpse? 

I>  "t  this,  my  son,  thou  bringest  back  to  me?  fes 

Was  it  for  this  I  followed  thee  o'er  land 

And  ocean?      Pierce  me  through,  ye  Rutuli ! 

If  any  filial  pity  ye  would  show. 

Me  first  !      But  thou,  great  father  of  the  gods, 

[n  mercy  thrust  this  hated  life  beneath  6io 

The  shades  of  Tartarus;  since  otherwise 

I  cannot  break  the  thread  of  cruel  life!" 

Her  sad  lament  wrings  every  soul  ;   deep  groans 
Pass  through  the  warrior's  ranks.      Their  broken  strength 
Grows  torpid  for  the  battle.      Thus  while  she  615 

Adds  grief  to  grief,  Idirus  and  Actor  come, 
By  Ilioneus  and  Ascanius  sent 
■  Who  weeps  full  sore),  and  bear  her  to  her  home. 


Hut  now  the  dreadful  trumpet's  brazen  blare 

Is  heard,  and  shouts  resound.     The  Vblscians  haste 


374  The  sEneid. 

To  form  their  ranks  beneath  a  roof  of  shields, 

And  fill  the  moats,  and  storm  the  ramparts.     Some 

Seek  for  an  entrance,  and  to  scale  the  walls, 

Where  thinly  shows  the  opposing  battle-line, 

And  where  the  armed  ring  less  densely  gleams.  *zS 

The  Trojans  with  strong  poles  thrust  back  their  foes, 

And  shower  their  weapons  down  of  every  kind, 

Taught  by  long  warfare  to  defend  their  walls. 

Stones  also  they  roll  down,  of  fearful  weight, 

To  break,  if  so  they  can,  their  sheltered  ranks.  630 

But  underneath  their  iron  roof  their  foes 

Can  well  endure  all  hardships.     Yet  their  strength 

Suffices  not ;   for  where  the  serried  mass 

Most  threatened,  a  huge  rock  the  Trojans  rolled, 

Which  fell,  and  dashed  asunder  far  and  wide  63S 

The  Rutuli,  and  crushed  their  shielded  roof. 

No  longer  do  the  bold  assailants  dare 

Contend  in  warfare  blind,  but  bend  their  strength 

To  drive  their  foes  with  missiles  from  the  walls. 

Mezentius  at  another  point  comes  on,  640 

In  aspect  terrible,  and  brandishes 

A  blazing  Tuscan  pine,  and  fills  the  place 

With  fire  and  smoke.     Messapus  too  is  there, 

Tamer  of  steeds,  and  of  Neptunian  race, 


Book   i\. 


5  i  5 


Ami  batters  down  and  tears  the  palisade, 
Aiul  calls  for  ladders  to  ascend  the  walls. 

\  e  Muses,  ami  thou  chief,  Calliope! 

Inspire  me  now  to  sing  wh.it  deeds  ol  death 

Were  done  tli.it  day  by  Turnus;  what  brave  souls 

Were  sent  to  Orcus ;    and  untold  with  me  650 

The  war's  vast  outlines.     Ye,  0  goddesses, 

Hear  all  in  mind,  and  can  rehearse  them  all. 

Joined  by  high  bridges  to  the  walls,  there  stood 

A  1  >fty  tower,  which  with  their  utmost  strength 

The  Italians  stormed,  and  strove  to  overturn.  65s 

The  Trojans  made  defence  with  stones,  and  down 

Through  hollowr  loopholes  showers  of   javelins  hurled. 

Then  Turnus,  foremost,  flung  a  blazing  torch, 

Which  struck,  and  burning  clung  against  the  sides. 

Blown  by  the  wind,  it  seizes  on  the  boards  660 

And  on  the  beams  with  its  devouring  flames. 

Dismayed,  the  Trojans  try  in  vain  to  fly; 

Then  as  they  backward  crowd  upon  the  part 

Free  from  the  fiery  pest,  with  all  its  weight 

The  tower  gives  way,  and  falls;   the  mighty  crs 

Thunders  through  all  the  sky.      Down   to  the  earth, 


376  The   Aineid. 

The  huge  mass  following,  they  fall,  half  dead, 

And  on  each  other's  spears  impaled,  or  pierced 

By  splintered  beams.     Helenor  only  escaped, 

And  Lycus ;  young  Helenor,  whom  the  slave  670 

Licymnia  to  a  Lydian  king  had  borne 

In  secret  love,  and  whom  she  had  sent  to  Troy 

With  arms  forbidden  ;  he  with  naked  sword 

Was  lightly  armed,  and  with  inglorious  shield 

Without  device.     He  when  he  saw  himself  675 

Hemmed  in  by  Turnus'  hosts,  the  Latian  lines 

Opposing  to  the  right  and  to  the  left, — 

As  some  wild  beast,  surrounded  by  a  ring 

Of  hunters,  rages  'gainst  their  spears,  and  bounds 

Upon  their  points,  and  knows  her  doom  is  near,  —        680 

So  the  youth  rushes  on  his  foes,  prepared 

To  die,  and  where  the  spears  are  thickest  leaps. 

But  Lycus,  swifter  far,  flies  through  the  hosts, 

And  gains  the  walls,  and  strives  to  grasp  the  ridge, 

And  reach  some  friendly  hand.     Turnus  pursues,  6s5 

As  swift  of  foot,  as  with  his  threatening  spear. 

"  Fool !  "  he  exclaims,  "  and  didst  thou  hope  to  escape 

Our  hands?"     Then  seizing  him  as  there  he  hangs, 

A  huge  piece  of  the  wall  tears  down  with  him. 

As  when  Jove's  eagle,  swooping  from  above,  690 


B  ok   /.v. 


With  crooked  talons  carries  off  a  hare 

Of  snow-white  swan  ;   or  as  a  raging  wolf 

Snatches  aw  ay  a  lamb  from  out  the  fold, 
Amid  the  piteous  bleatings  of  it^  dam. 
Shouts  rise  on  every  side.      They  charge  amain, 
They  heap  the  trenches  lull  with  earth,  and  fling 
Their  blazing  torches  to  the  battlements. 

Then  with  a  ponderous  fragment  from  a  clitl", 
Ilioneus  fells  Lucetius,  as  he  comes 
Beneath  the  gate,  a  firebrand  in  his  hand. 
Liger  strikes  down  Emathion ;   and,  laid  low 

Vilas,  CorynaeilS  falls  ;    the  one 
Skilled  in  the  javelin,  and  the  other  swift 
With  unsuspected  arrow  from  afar. 
Caneus  slays  Ortygius,  Turnus  him  : 
I      ,  and  Clonius,  and  Dioxippus, 
And  Promolus,  and  Safaris,  all  fell 
By  Turnus'  hand,  and  Idas,  as  he  stood 

.1  the  turret's  height  ;   and  Capys  slays 
Privernus,  by  Themilla's  spear  first  grazed. 
He,  thoughtless,  threw  aside  his  shield,  And  laid 
IIi>  hand  upon  the  wound:   an  arrow  Hew 
And  pierced  his  hand,  and  pinned  it  to  his  side, 
And  through  the  deadly  wound  his  soul's  breath  eh' 
48 


700 


705 


710 


378  The   sEneid. 

In  splendid  armor  Arcens'  son  appeared;  715 

A  broidered  cloak,  Iberian  purple,  decked 
His  noble  form.     He  by  his  sire  was  sent 
Into  the  war,  and  in  his  mother's  grove 
Was  reared,  beside  Symasthus'  stream,  where  stood 
Palicus'  easy  altar,  fat  with  gifts.  1^ 

His  spears  now  laid  aside,  Mezentius  whirls 
Thrice  round  his  head  his  whizzing  sling  ;  the  lead 
Pierces  the  temples  of  the  youth,  who  falls, 
And  on  the  sand  lies  stretched  his  lifeless  form. 

Then  for  the  first  time  in  the  war,  't  is  said,  v-i 

Ascanius  aimed  his  swift  shaft  at  the  foe, — 

Ere  this  accustomed  only  to  pursue 

The  wild  beasts  of  the  chase,  — and  with  his  hand 

Struck  down  the  strong  Numanus,  whose  surname 

Was  Remulus ;  who  lately  had  espoused  730 

The  younger  sister  of  Prince  Turnus.     He, 

Swelling  with  new-blown  pride  of  royalty, 

Stalked  in  the  foremost  ranks,  vociferous 

With  boast  and  taunt,  and  towering  with  huge  frame, 

Thus  called  aloud:   "Are  ye  not  then  ashamed,  73s 

Twice-captured  Phrygians,  to  be  shut  once  more 

Within  your  ramparts,  interposing  walls 


B  ok  \  \ 

i\t  you  and  death  :     I .",  th  me 

Claiming  In  war  our  brides!     \\  hat  g  •  .1  wa    it, 
W'h.it  madness  brought  you  to  the  Italian 

mis  o(  Atreus  shall  you  find  in 
No  false,  smooth-tongued  I  I  rom  our  birth 

We  arc  a  hardy  race.     We  plunge  our  bal 
Into  the  river,  soon  as  they  are  horn, 
And  harden  thus  their  frames  to  wintry  eold. 
Our  boys  are  never  weary  oi    the  ch 

They  scour  the  wo  It  is  their  sport  to  tame 

Their  Steeds,  and  bend  their  how-,  and  wing  thei: 
Our  youths,  in  labor  patient,  and  inured 
1      humble  tare,  either  subdue  the  earth 
With  harrows,  or  in  battle  shake  the  walls 
Oi  towns.      We  pass  our  lives  in  handling  steel: 
\\  e  drive  our  oxen  with  inverted  speai 
Age  weakens  not  our  strength  ;  on  our  gray  beads 
W  e  press  the  helmet;  and  't  is  our  delight 
To  seize  fresh  Spoils,  and  on  our  plunder  live. 
.  in  your  broidered  vt  aflfron  hue 

I  glowing  purple,  indolently  live; 

D       hting  in  your  dances,  and  your  sleet 

.  with  lappets  underneath  your  chins. 
Yea,  Phrygian  women,  verily,  nut  men! 


3  8o  The   Aineid. 

Hence  to  the  summits  of  your  Dindymus, 

Where  breathes  the  flute  in  your  accustomed  ear 

Its  two  weak  notes.     The  Berecynthian  pipe 

And  timbrels  call  you.     Throw  your  weapons  down !    765 

Leave  arms  to  heroes  of  a  sturdier  stuff!  " 

This  boaster's  words,  presaging  evil  thus, 

Ascanius  could  not  bear.     Confronting  him, 

An  arrow  on  his  horsehair  string  he  drew, 

And  stood  awhile  with  arms  extended  wide,  770 

And  prayed  to  Jove  :   "  All-powerful  Jupiter, 

Aid  now  my  daring  venture!     To  thy  shrines 

Will  I  bring  solemn  offerings,  and  will  place 

Before  thy  altars  a  young  bull,  snow-white, 

With  gilded  horns,  in  size  his  mother's  mate,  77s 

And  threatening  head,  and  hoofs  that  paw  the  sand." 

The  Father  heard,  and  from  the  sky  serene 

Thundered  upon  the  left.     The  fatal  bow 

Twanged  ;  and  the  dreadful  arrow  whistling  flew, 

And  the  Rutulian's  hollow  temples  pierced.  7S0 

"  Go,  mock  at  valor  with  thy  haughty  words. 

This  answer  your  twice-captured  Phrygians  send 

Back  to  the  Rutuli ! "     He  said  no  more. 


B  '/■  ix. 


381 


The   l  in!  him  with  loud  applau  e, 

!  to  the  stars,  u  Lth  shoul  .         1  Iu>  d< 


ghr-haired  Apollo  from  the  ethereal  1. 

chance  was  then  surveying  from  above 
The  Ausonian  troops  and  city  ;  on  .1  cloud 
He  sat,  and  thus  addressed  the  victor  youth  :  — 
"  ( I      »n,  Increase  in  early  valor,  boy  ;  790 

Such  i^  the  pathway  to  the  starry  heights, 
Descendant  and  progenitor  oi  godsl 
All  wars  that  arc  ordained  by  fate  shall  end 
In  justice,  when  Assaracus'  great  line 
Shall  rule,  nor  Troy  be  able  to  contain 
Thy  growth."      So  saying,  from  the  lofty  sky, 
1      ting  the  breathing  airs  oi    heaven,  he  come-, 

\  canius,  changed  in  features  then 
Into  the  likeness  o(  old  Butes'  face, 
W  ho  once  An  cruses'  armor-bearer  was,  800 

I  faithful  guardian  at  the  gate,  hut  now 
*>     mpanion  to  Ascanius.     So  stepped  forth 
Apollo,  in  all  things  resembling  him  ; 
In  voice,  in  color,  in  his  hoary  locks, 

I  fiercely  clanking  armor.      He  then  thus 
Speaks  to  the  ardent  youth  :    "Son 


382  The   ALneid. 

Let  it  suffice,  that  thou  unharmed  hast  slain 

Numanus  with  thy  shaft.      Apollo  gives 

This  first  praise  unto  thee,  and  envies  not 

Feats  that  shall  equal  this.      For  what  remains,  810 

Restrain  thy  hand  from  further  deeds  of  war." 

So  saying,  Apollo  left  his  mortal  shape, 
E'en  as  he  spoke,  and  vanished  in  thin  air. 
The  Dardan  chiefs  then  knew  the  deity, 
And  knew  his  shafts  divine,  and  as  he  fled  815 

His  rattling  quiver  heard.      So  by  command 
Of  Phcebus,  they  restrain  Ascanius  now, 
Who  thirsts  to  join  the  battle.     They  themselves 
Again  renew  the  combat,  and  expose 

Their-  lives  to  open  perils  of  the  war.  sio 

All  round  the  battlements  their  clamor  runs; 
They  bend  their  bows,  and  with  their  thongs  they  whirl 
Their  javelins  :   all  the  ground  is  strewn  with  darts. 
Their  shields  and  hollow  helmets  clash  and  ring. 
The  raging  battle  swells ;   as  when  a  shower,  8z5 

Borne  from  the  west  beneath  the  rainy  Kids, 
Lashes  the  ground,  or,  thick  with  hail,  the  clouds 
Rush  down  upon  the  waves,  when  Jupiter 
With  fearful  south-winds  whirls  the  watery  storm, 
And  through  the  sky-wrack  bursts  the  hollow  clouds.    *h 


Book  /v. 

Bitias  and  Paml.inis,  from  Alcanor  sprung 
o(  [da  (whom  Lira,  sylvan  nymph, 
Reared  in  the  sacred  grove  oi    fupitcr; 
I  ill  youths  who  towered  like  their  hills  and  fii    , 
Relying  on  their  arms,  ope  wide  the  gate 
Intrusted  by  their  leader  to  their  char 
And  from  the  ramparts  challenge  the  attack  ; 
While  they  within  stand  at  the  ri^ht  and  left 
Before  the  turrets,  armed,  their  lofty  heads 
Flashing  with  plumes.      So  by  some  river's  hank,  s43 

Whether  the  Po  or  plea-ant  Athesis, 
Two  breezy  oaks  litt  up  their  unshorn  heads, 
And  nod  their  lofty  tops.     The  Rutuli, 
Soon  as  they  see  an  opened  way,  rush  in. 
Then  (,Hiercens  and  the  fair  Aquicolus,  Us 

And  hasty  Tmarus,  and  brave  Ila-mon,  all 
I  ither  turned  back,  repulsed,  with  all  their  troops 
Or  at  the  very  gatewav  met  their  death. 
Then  fiercer  grows  the  Trojans'  hostile  ra 
And  now  thev  gather  thick,  and  hand  to  hand 
(     ntend,  and  dare  to  press  beyond  the  walls. 

W  hile  Turnus,  in  another  quarter,  storms 
W  ith  fury,  and  confusion  to  his  foes, 


384  The   Aineid. 

A  message  comes,  that  hot  with  havoc  fresh, 

The  enemy  had  opened  wide  their  gates.  85s 

Quitting  his  work  begun,  in  towering  wrath 

He  rushes  to  the  Dardan  gate,  and  seeks 

Those  haughty  brothers.     First,  Antiphates, 

Who  foremost  came,  Sarpedon's  bastard  son, 

Born  of  a  Theban  mother,  he  strikes  down.  860 

The  cornel  arrow  cleaves  the  yielding  air ; 

Beneath  the  breast  the  weapon  pierces  deep; 

The  life-blood  spurts,  and  warms  the  buried  steel. 

Next  Merops,  Erymas,  and  Aphidnus  fall ; 

Then  Bitias,  with  his  burning  eyes,  and  soul  865 

Aflame;   not  by  a  javelin  :   for  no  dart 

Could  ever  have  bereft  that  frame  of  life. 

A  ponderous  phalaric  spear  it  was 

That  whizzing  flew,  hurled  like  a  thunderbolt; 

That  neither  two  bulls'  hides,  nor  trusty  mail  870 

With  double  scales  of  gold,  sustained  the  shock. 

Down  dropped  his  giant  limbs.      The  shaken  earth 

Groaned,  and  his  huge  shield  rattled  as  he  fell. 

So  sometimes  on  Eubcean  Bail's  shore 

There  falls  a  rocky  pile,  whose  mighty  mass  g:5 

Stood  built  into  the  sea  ;   so  toppling  down 

And  dragging  ruin  in  its  fall,  it  lies 


Book  i\.  \^'^ 

Dashed  on  the  shallows,  and  the  troubled 

Is  black  with  lifted  sand.     Steep  Prochyta 

Heirs,  trembling,  and  [narime's  hard  bed  »° 

Piled  on  Typhoeus,  by  command  of  Jove. 


\  w  Mars  inspired  the  Latins  with  fresh  Strength 

Ami  courage,  and  more  fiercely  spurred  them  on  ; 
While  flight  and  terror  on  the  Trojan^'  hearts 
He  threw.      They  crowd  together  from  all  sides,  8S5 

Since  now  they  see  a  timely  chance  is  given 
For  battle,  and  the  war-god  tires  their  souls. 
When  Pandarus  sees  his  brother's  body  stretched 
Upon  the  earth,  and  how  their  fortune  takes 
An  unexpected  turn,  with  mighty  strength  89o 

Pressing  with  shoulders  broad  against  the  gate, 
He  turns  it  on  its  hinges,  and  so  leaves 
Full  many  a  comrade  from  the  walls  shut  out 
Amid  the  cruel  fray  ;   but  others  too, 

As  on  they  rush,  he  shuts  in  with  himself: —  89s 

Infatuated  man  !   who  did  not  see 
The  prince  of  the  Rutulians  'mid  the  troops 
That  entered,  by  his  own  rash  hand  shut  in,  — 
Like  a  hu^e  tiirer  'mid  a  timorous  rlock. 
For  sudden  from  his  eyes  a  strange  light  flashed;  9°° 

49 


386  The  Aineid. 

His  terrible  armor  rang;   his  blood-red  crest 

Trembled  upon  his  head  ;  and  from  his  shield 

Came  gleams  of  lightning.     Then  the  Trojans  knew 

The  hated  countenance,  the  form  immense, 

And  stood  dismayed.     But  mighty  Pandarus,  9°s 

Burning  with  anger  for  his  brother's  death, 

Leaps  forth:   "No  palace  of  Amata  this, 

Thy  promised  dower !     No  Ardea  now  holds 

Turnus  within  his  native  walls!     Thou  seest 

Thy  enemies'  camp,  and  thou  art  powerless  now  9'° 

To  issue  hence."     Then  Turnus,  undisturbed, 

Smiling  replied  :   "  Begin,  if  there  be  aught 

Of  valor  in  thy  soul;  and  hand  to  hand 

Meet  me.     Thou  shalt  tell  Priam  thou  hast  found 

Another  Achilles  here  !  "     Then  Pandarus  915 

Hurled  at  him  with  his  utmost  strength  a  spear 

Rough  with  its  knots  and  bark.     Upon  the  air 

Its  force  was  wasted.     Juno  intervened, 

And  turned  aside  the  weapon,  and  it  stuck 

Fast  in  the  gate.     Then  Turnus  cried  aloud  :  —  9" 

"Not  so  shalt  thou  escape  this  steel  which  now 

My  strong  arm  wields ;   nor  is  the  hand  so  weak, 

That  grasps  the  weapon,  or  that  deals  the  blow  !  " 

So  saying,  with  his  lifted  sword  he  towers, 


Book  /.v.  387 

And  smiting  down,  through  brow  \nA  temples  cleaves  r-s 

The  youthful  warrior's  head  and  beardlc  -  cheeks, — 

A  hideous  wound;    and  as  he  tails,  the  earth 
Shakes  witli  a    jarring  sound.      Dying  he  lay, 
With  stiffening  limbs,  and  armor  dashed  with  blood 

And  brains;  while  down  from  either  shoulder  hung 

His  cloven  head.      Hither  and  thither  rly 

The  Trojans  in  confusion  and  dismay. 

And  had  the  victor  then  bethought  himself 

To  unbar  the  gates  and  let  his  followers  in, 

That  i.lav  had  been  the  last  day  of  the  war  935 

And  o{  the  Trojan  race.      But  fury  now 

And  a  wild  thirst  for  slai^hter  drove  him  on 

Against  the  opposing  foe.      First  Phaleris, 

And  Gyges,  whom  he  had  wounded  in  the  ham, 

He  overtakes,  and  snatching  up  their  spears,  94- 

He  stabs  them  in  the  back.      Juno  supplies 

Courage  and  strength.      Halvs  their  comrade  too 

He  -lays,  and  Phegeus,  smitten  through  his  shield; 

Alcander,  Halius,  and  Noemon  next, 

And  Prytanis,  who  unaware  of  all, 

Stood  at  the  walls,  and  urged  the  battle  on. 

Lynceus  too,  advancing  on  him  there, 

And  summoning  his  comrades,  he  assails 


3§8 


The  Aineid. 


Upon  the  rampart  with  his  glittering  sword, 

And  closing  on  him  with  his  utmost  strength, 

Struck  off  his  head  and  helmet  at  one  blow, 

And  scattered  them  afar.     Then  Amycus, 

Slayer  of  savage  beasts,  than  whom  none  knew 

Better  to  tip  with  poison  the  sharp  steel  ; 

And  Clytius,  son  of  iEolus,  he  slew; 

And  Creteus,  the  Muses'  faithful  friend, 

Lover  of  poesy  and  the  chorded  lyre, 

Who  framed  sweet  numbers  to  his  strings,  and  sang 

Forever  of  brave  heroes,  steeds,  and  wars. 


95° 


955 


Then  hearing  of  the  slaughter  in  their  ranks, 

Mnestheus  at  length  and  brave  Serestus  meet, 

And  see  their  troops  dispersed  ;  the  enemy 

With  the  camp.     And,  "Whither,"  Mnestheus  cries, 

"  Do  ye  now  take  your  flight  ?     What  battlements, 

What  other  walls  beyond,  do  ye  possess  ? 

Shall  one  man,  hemmed  in  here  on  every  side 

By  your  own  ramparts,  deal  throughout  your  camp 

Such  work  of  death,  unpunished,  and  send  thus 

So  many  chosen  warriors  to  the  shades? 

O  sluggish  souls!   no  pity  and  no  shame 

For  your  unhappy  country  do  ye  feel, 


960 


965 


97< 


Book  /x.  38  ) 

Nor  tor  your  gods,  nor  for  the  great  .liu-.. 
Fired  by  his  words,  they  rally  with  new  strength, 
Ami  stand  in  dense  battalion.     By  >! 

Tumus  retreats  upon  the  side  that    join-, 

The  river,  and  IS  hounded  by  its  wave  . 

Shouting,  the  Trojans  hear  more  fiercely  down, 

And  mass  their  forces.     So  the  hunters  press 

A  raging  lion  with  their  darts  and  spears. 

Dismayed,  but  glaring  fiercely,  he  draws  hack;  98a 

His  rage  and  courage  both  forbid  to  turn  ; 

Nor  can  he  spring  upon  them,  though  he  would, 

Powerless  against  the  weapons  and  the  men. 

Turnus,  hesitating,  backward  moves, 
With  lingering  steps,  and  boils  with  fruitless  rage.  985 

1      n  then,  he  twice  attacked  the  enemy 
Full  in  their  centre;   twice  along  the  walls 
He  chased  them  in  confusion.      But  in  haste, 
Forth  from  the  camp,  the  whole  host  now  has  joined 

linst  him  single;   nor  does  Juno  dare  990 

To  give  him  strength  enough;   for  Jupiter 
Sends  Iris  down,  bearing  no  soft  commands, 
Should  Turnus  not  depart  and  leave  the  walls. 
So  neither  with  his  shield  nor  strong  right  arm 
The  youth  is  able  to  sustain  such  force ; 


39°  The   Alneid. 

So  thick  the  storm  of  darts  that  hails  around. 

With  blow  on  blow  the  helmet  on  his  brows 

Is  ringing,  and  the  solid  brass  is  riven 

By  flying  stones,  his  plumy  crest  struck  off; 

His  bossy  shield  no  longer  can  endure  iooo 

The  shocks  of  battle ;  while  the  Trojans  press 

On  with  redoubled  spears,  —  Mnestheus  himself 

A  thunderbolt.     Then,  dripping  from  his  limbs 

Black  sweat-drops  run  in  streams ;  nor  can  he  breathe. 

Exhausted,  panting,  heaves  his  weary  frame.  1005 

Until  at  last  with  a  great  bound  he  leapt, 

With  all  his  armor  on,  into  the  stream. 

The  yellow  flood  received,  and  bore  him  up 

Upon  its  gentle  waves,  and  washed  away 

The  stains  of  slaughter  from  his  limbs ;  and  back,        1010 

Rejoicing,  to  his  friends  restored  the  chief. 


BOOK    X. 

"]\   TEANWHILE  the  omnipotent  Olympian  doors 

Are  opened,  and  the  father  of  the  gods 
And  sovereign  of  men  a  council  holds 
Within  his  starry  courts,  whence  from  ahove 
He  sees  the  spreading  lands,  the  Trojan  camp,  s 

And  Latian  tribes.     The  double-folding  gates 
Receive  the  gods;  they  sit;  then  Jove  thus  speaks:  — 

"  Celestial  Powers,  why  is  your  purpose  thus 

Turned  backward,  and  why  with  these  hostile  minds 

Do  ye  contend  ?     No  token  of  assent  i° 

I  gave,  that  Italy  and  the  Trojan  race 

Should  clash  in  war.     Why  this  discordant  strife 

'Gainst  my  decree  ?      What  fears  persuaded  these 

Or  those  to  draw  the  sword  and  rush  to  arms? 

The  lawful  time  will  come  for  war,  —  let  none  «s 

Anticipate  the  day,  —  when  on  the  towers 

Of  Rome,  fierce  Carthage  through  the  opened  Alps 


392  The  Aineid. 

Shall  bring  destruction.     Then,  for  war  and  spoils 

Your  hatred  shall  be  free.     But  now  forbear, 

And  willingly  conclude  our  destined  league."  *> 

Thus  briefly  Jupiter ;  but  not  so  brief 

The  words  of  golden  Venus,  who  replied  :  — 

"O  Father,  O  eternal  power  of  men 

And  their  affairs !  for  whom  is  there  beside 

That  we  can  now  implore  ?     Dost  thou  not  see  25 

How  these  Rutulians  insult ;  how,  borne 

Conspicuous  on  his  steed  amid  the  ranks, 

Flushed  with  success,  Turnus  is  rushing  on  ? 

Their  guarded  ramparts  now  protect  no  more 

The  Trojans  ;  but  within  their  very  gates  3° 

And  mounded  walls  the  battle  rages  still ; 

And  with  their  blood  the  trenches  overflow. 

iEneas,  absent,  nothing  knows  of  this. 

And  wilt  thou  never  suffer  that  this  siege 

Be  raised  ?     Once  more  their  enemies  now  threat  35 

Their  rising  Troy,  and  with  another  host. 

Once  more  against  the  Trojans  comes  the  son 

Of  Tydeus,  from  /Etolian  Arpi  sent. 

For  me,  I  verily  believe,  new  wounds 

Are  yet  in  store ;  and  I,  thy  offspring,  still  40 


Book    X.  \- 

A  contest  must  await  with  mortal  arm  . 
If  without  thy  consent,  'gainst  thy  deci 
The  Trojans  come  to  Italy,  for  this 

Let  them  atone,  nor  give  them  aid  ;    but  it, 

Obedient  to  60  many  answers  given 
From  the  celestial  and  internal  realms, 
They  came,  how  now  can  any  one  pervert 
Thy  high  commands,  or  frame  the  fates  anew  : 
Why  call  to  mind  the  burning  of  their  fleet 
On  the  Sicilian  shore?  —  the  furious  winds  s° 

Raised  from  /F.olia  by  the  king  of  storms?  — 
Or  iris,  through  the  clouds  despatched  to  earth? 
Now  e'en  the  forces  of  the  Underworld 
She  moves;  —  this  region  yet  remained  untried;  — 
And,  suddenly  let  loose  on  upper  realms,  ss 

Allecto  through  the  Italian  cities  raves. 
I  care  no  more  for  empire  :    this  we  hoped 
While  Fortune  stood  our  friend.      Let  those  prevail 
Whom  thou  wilt  have  prevail.      If  upon  earth 
There  be  no  spot  thy  rigid  spouse  accords  * 

Into  the  Trojans,  then,  ()  Sire  divine, 
I  do  conjure  thee,  by  the  smoking  ruins 
Of  Troy  demolished,  let  me  send  away 
A-canius  safe;   let  my  grandson  survive. 
50 


394  The  Alneid. 

Yea,  let  iEneas  upon  unknown  seas  65 

Be  tossed,  and  follow  whatsoever  course 

Fortune  may  grant ;  but  give  me  power  to  shield 

His  son,  and  save  him  from  the  direful  war. 

Amathus,  Paphos,  and  Cythera  are  mine, 

And  mine  the  mansion  of  Idalia.  70 

Here  let  him  pass  his  life,  and  lay  aside, 

Inglorious,  his  arms.     Let  Carthage  rule 

Ausonia  with  oppressive  sway.     From  him 

The  Tyrian  cities  shall  receive  no  check. 

What  profit  had  iEneas  to  have  'scaped  75 

The  pest  of  war,  and  through  the  Grecian  flames 

To  have  fled,  and  on  the  ocean  and  the  land 

Borne  to  the  uttermost  so  many  perils, 

While  Latium  and  a  Pergamus  revived 

The  Trojans  seek  ?     Better  for  them  to  have  built  80 

Upon  their  country's  ashes,  and  the  soil 

Where  Troy  once  was.     Give  back,  O  Sire,  I  beg, 

To  these  unhappy  ones  their  Simois 

And  Xanthus,  and  again  let  them  endure 

The  sufferings  of  Troy." 

Then,  stung  with  rage,  8S 

The  royal  Juno  spake  :   "  Wherefore  dost  thou 
Force  me  to  break  my  silence  deep,  and  thus 


Book    A. 

Proclaim  in  words  my  secret  lorrow?     Who 

Of  mortals,  or  oi  gods,  ever  constrained 

/F.ncas  to  pursue  these  wars,  ami  face  >  ■ 

The  Latian  monarch  as  an  enemy  : 
Led  by  the  fates  be  came  to  Italy  ; 
it  so;  Cassandra's  raving  prophecies 

Impelled  him.      Was  it  we  who  counselled  him 

To  leave  his  camp,  and  to  the  winds  commit  9S 

I  1      lite?   or  to  a  hoy  entrust  his  walls, 

And  the  chief  conduct  of  the  war  ?   or  seek 

A  Tuscan  league  ?  or  stir  up  tribes  at  peace  ? 

What  god,  what  unrelenting  power  of  mine, 

Compelled  him  to  this  fraud  ?      What  part  in  this  100 

Had  Juno,  or  had  Iris,  sent  from  heaven  ? 

A  great  indignity  it  is,  forsooth, 

That  the  Italians  should  surround  with  flames 

Your  new  and  rising  Troy,  and  that  their  chief, 

Turnus,  should  on  his  native  land  maintain  105 

His  own,  whose  ancestor  Pilumnus  was, 

Whose  mother  was  the  nymph  Vcnilia. 

W  hat  is  it  tor  the  Trojans  to  assail 

The  Latins  with  their  firebrands,  and  subdue 

The  alien  fields,  and  hear  away  their  spoil  "; 

Choose  their  wives'  lathers,  and  our  plighted  brides 


396  The  Aineid. 

Tear  from  our  breasts  ?     Sue  with  their  hands  for  peace, 

Yet  hang  up  arms  upon  their  ships  ?     Thy  power 

May  rescue  iEneas  from  the  Greeks,  and  show 

In  place  of  a  live  man  an  empty  cloud  ;  us 

Or  change  his  ships  into  so  many  nymphs. 

Is  it  a  crime  for  us  to  have  helped  somewhat 

The  Rutuli  against  him  ?     Ignorant 

And  absent,  as  thou  say'st,  iEneas  is ;  — 

Absent  and  ignorant  then  let  him  be.  no 

Thou  hast  thy  Paphos,  thy  Idalium  too, 

And  lofty  seat  Cythera.     Why  then  try 

These  rugged  hearts,  a  city  big  with  wars  ? 

Do  we  attempt  to  overturn  your  loose 

Unstable  Phrygian  state?     Is 't  we,  or  he  1*5 

Who  exposed  the  wretched  Trojans  to  the  Greeks  ? 

Who  was  the  cause  that  Europe  rose  in  arms 

With  Asia,  or  who  broke  an  ancient  league 

By  a  perfidious  theft  ?     Did  I  command, 

When  the  Dardanian  adulterer  13° 

Did  violence  to  Sparta?     Or  did  I 

Supply  him  weapons,  and  foment  the  war 

By  lust  ?     Thou  shouldst  have  then  had  fear  for  those 

Upon  thy  side  ;  but  now  too  late  thou  bring'st 

Idle  reproaches  and  unjust  complaints."  135 


Book   \. 

flino  pleaded  ;    and  the  immortals  .ill 
Murmured  their  various  scnteiu  when 

'The  rising  breeze  caught  in  the  depths, 

Muttering  in  smothered  sighs  and  undertone  , 

Foretells  tO  mariners  the  coming  storm,  m 

Then  the  Omnipotent  Father,  who  o'errules 

The  universe,  begins.       Ami  while  he  speaks, 

The  lofty  palace  of  the  gods  is  hushed, 

The  fixed  earth  tremhles,  and  the  height!  of  air 

Are  silent;    then  the  Zephyrs  fold  their  win.    ,  145 

1  the  great  Ocean  smooths  his  placid  waves. 
"  Hear  then,  and  fix  mv  words  within  vour  minds. 
Since  it  is  not  permitted  that  a  league 
Between  the  Trojan  and  the  Ausonian  powers 
Be  made,  and  since  your  discord  finds  no  end,  150 

Whatever  fortune  falls  to-day  tor  each, 
Whatever  hope  each  one  may  build  for  himself, 
Or  Trojan,  or  Rutulian,  he  with  me 

.11  know  no  difference;    whether  through  the  1.;:. 
The  Latians  hold  the  Trojan  camp  besieged, 
Or  through  Troy's  fatal  error,  ami  mistake 
01    doubtful  warnings.      Nor  do  I  exempt 
The  Rutuli.      To  each  his  enterprise 


398  The  Aineid. 

Will  bring  its  weal  or  woe.     Jove  is  the  same 

To  all  alike.     The  Fates  will  find  their  way."  160 

By  his  Stygian  brother's  river-banks,  the  gulfs 

And  torrents  of  black  pitch,  he  sealed  his  vow, 

And  bowed  his  head,  and  all  Olympus  shook. 

Here  ended  speech.     Then  from  his  golden  throne 

Jove  rose,  and  in  the  midst  of  all  the  gods  165 

Attending,  through  the  Olympian  portals  passed. 

Meanwhile  the  Rutuli  round  all  the  gates 

Pursue  their  havoc,  and  surround  the  walls 

With  flames;  while  in  their  ramparts  close  besieged, 

The  Trojans,  hopeless  of  escape,  are  held.  170 

Forlorn  they  stand  upon  their  lofty  towers, 

In  vain,  and  round  the  battlements  oppose 

Their  thin  ring  of  defence;  in  front  are  seen 

Asius  Imbrasides,  Thymcetes,  son. 

Of  Hicetaon,  the  two  Assaraci,  175 

Castor,  and  aged  Thymbris ;  and  with  these 

Sarpedon's  brothers  both  ;  and  Clarus  too, 

And  Themon,  who  from  lofty  Lycia  came. 

Lyrnessian  Acmon,  strong  as  Clytius 

His  sire,  or  as  Mnestheus,  his  brother,  comes,  180 

Lifting  a  rock  immense,  a  mountain  mass, 


Book  x.  | 

IIi>  whole  frame  straining  to  its  uti  trength. 

With  javelins  Borne,  and  Borne  with  stones,  e 
To  make  defence;  or  hurl  their  blazing  bran 

Or  tit  the  arrow  to  the  string.     And  lo,  i«s 

The  youthful  Dardan  prince  among  them    In 
Venus'  most  precious  charge,  his  comely  head 

Hare,  like  a  gem  that  parts  the  yellow  gold 

Adorning  neck  or  hrow,  or  ivory  cased 

In  boxwood  or  Orician  terebinth. 

On  his  white  neck  his  flowing  locks  lie  hack, 

Bound  with  a  circle  of  soft  gold.      Thee  tOO, 

O  Lsmarus,  the  heroic  tribes  beheld 

Aiming  thy  darts,  the  steel  with  poison  tipped  ; 

Thou  of  a  noble  line  of  Lydia  sprung,  «9S 

Where  through  the  fertile  helds  by  labor  tilled 

Pactolus  rolls  along  his  golden  sands. 

And  there  was  Mnestheus  too,  raised  high  in  fame 

Since  he  had  beaten  Turnus  from  the  walls  ; 

And  Capys,  from  whom  Capua  since  was  named. 

While  these  sustained  the  shocks  of  rugged  war, 
-/Eneas  in  the  middle  of  the  night 

W  as     ploughing     through      the     waves.        1     r     having 
left 


4-00  The  Aineid. 

Evander,  to  the  Etruscan  camp  he  had  gone, 

And  laid  before  the  king  his  name  and  race,  205 

What  he  desired  of  him,  and  what  proposed  ; 

Unfolds  what  force  Mezentius  to  himself 

Prepares  to  win,  and  Turnus'  violent  mood : 

Warns  him  what  confidence  may  be  reposed 

In  man  ;  and  with  his  warnings  mingles  prayers.  210 

Without  delay  Tarchon  unites  his  force, 

And  strikes  a  league.     The  Lydians,  disengaged 

From  fate's  restraint,  embark  upon  the  fleet, 

Placed  by  commandment  of  the  gods  beneath 

A  foreign  leader.     Then  Eneas'  ship  21s 

Leads  on ;  the  Phrygian  lions  yoked  are  carved 

Below  the  prow,  while  Ida  towers  above, 

An  emblem  dear  to  Trojan  exiles.     Here 

The  great  /Eneas  sits,  and  in  his  mind 

The  various  vicissitudes  of  war  220 

Revolves.     Beside  him  Pallas,  sitting  close, 

Inquires  about  the  stars,  and  of  their  path 

Amid  the  night;  and  of  the  sufferings 

That  he  has  borne  on  ocean  and  on  land. 

Now  open  Helicon,  ye  goddesses,  «,* 

And  aid  my  song  to  tell  what  bands  meanwhile 


Book    A.  ^OI 

Attend  /Eneas  from  the  Tuscan  cos 

And  man  his  ships,  transported  o'er  the  sea. 


Fir^t,  in  the  brazen  Tigris,  Massicus; 
A  thousand  warriors  under  his  command,  »jo 

Who  Cosz  and  the  walls  of  Clusium  left; 
With  bows,  and  arrows,  and  light  quivers  armed. 
Grim  Abas  goes  with  him,  his  squadron  all 
With  burnished  weapons;   and  upon  his  stern 
A  gilded  image  of  Apollo  shone.  »3S 

His  native  city  Populonia 
\\\<\  given  to  him  six  hundred  warriors  tried 
In  war;   three  hundred  more  from  Ilva  went, 
An  island  rich  and  inexhaustible 

In  iron  mines.      Asilas  came  the  third;  u> 

Interpreter  of  gods  and  men  was  he, 
To  whom  the  victims'  fibres,  and  the  stars, 
The  languages  of  birds,  and  fiery  bolts 
Oi   the  presaging  lightning,  all  were  known. 
A  thousand  men  he  leads  in  close  array,  *4> 

W  ith  bristling  spears;   all  placed  in  his  command 
By  Pisa,  of  Alphean  origin, 
Although  a  Tuscan  city.      Astur  next, 
A  warrior  of  exceeding  beauty,  comes, 
5* 


402  The  Alneid. 

Confiding  in  his  steed  and  motley  arms.  150 

Three  hundred,  with  one  purpose,  follow  him. 

From  Caere  and  from  Minio's  plains  they  come, 

And  Pyrgi,  and  Gravisca's  sickly  shores. 

Nor  can  I  pass  thee  by,  most  brave  in  war, 

Cinyras,  leader  of  Ligurian  troops.  »ss 

Nor  thee,  Cupavo,  with  thy  slender  band  ;  — 

Thy  crest  the  plumage  of  a  swan,  the  sign 

Of  thy  changed  father's  fate ;  love  was  the  cause 

Of  evil  fortune  unto  thee  and  thine. 

For,  as  they  tell  us,  Cycnus,  while  in  grief  »6o 

For  his  beloved  Phaeton  he  sang 

Among  the  poplar  boughs,  his  sister's  shade, 

And  with  his  music  soothed  his  sorrowing  love, 

Brought  on  himself  the  semblance  of  old  age, 

A  downy  plumage;  and  so  left  the  earth,  ^ 

And  singing,  soared  away  among  the  stars. 

His  son,  attended  by  his  troops,  impels 

The  mighty  Centaur  with  his  oars,  whose  form 

Towers  o'er  the  waves,  and  threatening  holds  a  rock, 

And  with  his  long  keel  furrows  the  deep  sea.  *7° 

Next,  with  a  cohort  from  his  native  shores, 
Comes  Ocnus,  of  prophetic  Manto  born, 


Book  x.  403 

And  of  the  Tuscan  River,  who  to  thee 

Gave  walls,  0  Mantua,  and  his  mother's  name, — 
Mantua,  a  city  rich  in  ancestors ;  ijj 

Hut  not  one  lineage  tor  all.     Three  lines 

Are  hers,  an  J  to  each  line  four  tribes.      Of  th 

She  the  chief  city  is.     Prom  Tuscan  blood 

Her  Strength  IS  drawn.      Hence  too  Mczentius  arms 
Five  hundred  warriors  sent  against  himself,  ■* 

Whom  Mincius,  rising  from  his  parent-lake 
Benacus,  veiled  with  sea-green  reeds,  conveyed 
Down  to  the  sea  in  ships  of  hostile  pine. 

Heavy  Aulestes,  rising  to  the  stroke, 

aing  the  billows  with  a  hundred  oars,  »*s 

Comes,  turning  up  the  foam.     The  Triton  huge 
Conveys  him,  and  with  sounding  conch  affrights 
The  dark  blue  waves,  and  as  he  sails  presents 
A  -haggy  figure,  human  to  the  waist, 
The  rest  a  scaly  monster  of  the  sea. 
Heneath  his  rough  breast  murmuring  laps  the  surge. 

So  many  chosen  chiefs,  in  thrice  ten  ships, 
Sailed  to  help  Troy,  and  with  their  brazen  prows 
Ploughed  through  the  briny  plains. 

And  now  the  day 


4o4  The   Aineid. 

From  heaven  had  faded,  and  the  tender  moon  *95 

Was  journeying  in  her  nightly  car  midway 

Through  the  Olympian  sky.     Eneas'  cares 

Allow  his  limbs  no  rest.     He  sits  and  guides 

The  helm  himself,  and  manages  the  sails. 

When,  in  the  middle  of  his  course,  behold,  3°° 

A  choir  of  those  who  once  attended  him,  — 

Sea-nymphs  benignant  Cybele  had  dowered 

With  deity,  and  changed  from  ships  to  nymphs. 

With  even  pace  they  swim  and  cleave  the  waves, 

As  many  as  the  brazen  ships  that  stood  3°s 

Upon  the  shore.     Far  off  they  know  their  king, 

And  with  their  dancing  motions  circle  him. 

Cymodocea,  skilled  above  the  rest 

In  speech,  her  right  hand  lays  upon  the  stern, 

And  with  her  left  rows  gently  through  the  waves. 

Him  ignorant  she  then  addresses  thus :  — 

"Wakest  thou,  iEneas,  offspring  of  the  gods? 

Awake,  and  give  thy  full  sails  to  the  wind. 

We  are  the  pines  of  Ida's  sacred  top, 

Thy  fleet,  now  Ocean-nymphs.     When  sorely  pressed   j«s 

By  the  perfidious  Rutulian  prince 

With  sword  and  fire,  we  were  constrained  to  break 

Thy  cables,  and  upon  the  deep  we  came 


B    '/"    A'.  405 

In  quest  of  thee.     The  pitying  Mother  gave 

These  shapes  to  us,  and  made  us  god  :        ,  jjo 

P  sing  our  days  beneath  the  ocean's  wavi  . 

Hut  now  behind  the  trenches  and  the  walls, 

Thy  boy  Ascanius  is  shut  in  'mid  darts 

Ami  martial  terrors  oi    the  Latin  h 

the  Arcadian  cavalry  have  joined  3*$ 

The  valiant  Tuscans,  and  have  reached  the  place 
Appointed.     Turn  us  with  his  troops  resoli 
To  oppose  their  march,  lest  they  should   join  the  camp. 
Rise  then,  and  with  the  approaching  dawn,  array 
Thy  men  in  arms,  and  take  thy  unconquered  shield,       ;p 
The  fire-god's  gift,  bordered  with  rim>  of  gold. 
To-morrow's  sun,  unless  my  words  seem  vain, 
\   .  t  heaps  of  slaughtered  Rutuli  shall  see." 
She  said  ;   and  with  her  right  hand,  not  unskilled. 
Impelled  the  loftv  ship,  which  through  the  waves  335 

Flew,  switter  than  an  arrow  that  outstrips 
The  winds.      The  others  speed  along  their  course. 
In  ignorant  amaze  ./Eneas  stands, 
1  et  with  the  favoring  omen  cheers  his  crew. 
Then  looking  upward,  in  brief  words  he  prays:  — 
"Ida  an  C'ybele, —  Mother  divine 

Or  gods,  —  to  whom  thy  Dindymus  is  dear, 


406  The  Alneid. 

Thy  cities  turret-crowned,  thy  lions  yoked 

In  pairs  beneath  thy  reins,  be  now  to  me 

My  leader  in  the  battle;  in  due  form  345 

Confirm  the  issue  of  this  augury 

And  help  the  Phrygians  with  propitious  aid!" 

Meanwhile  night  fled,  and  the  broad  day  returned. 

Then  first  his  comrades  he  enjoins  to  note 

The  signal,  and  prepare  their  minds  for  war.  3S° 

And  now,  while  standing  on  the  lofty  stern, 

The  Trojans  and  their  camp  appear  to  view. 

On  his  left  arm  he  lifts  his  blazing  shield; 

When  from  their  walls  they  raise  a  joyous  shout. 

New  hope  revives  their  martial  rage;  they  hurl  35$ 

Anew  their  darts:   as  when  beneath  dark  clouds 

Strymonian  cranes  a  signal  give,  and  cleave 

The  air  with  clamorous  cries,  and  leave  behind 

The  southern  breezes  with  their  joyous  notes. 

But  the  Rutulian  prince  and  leaders  all  363 

Are  struck  with  wonder,  till  on  looking  back 

They  see  the  fleet  turned  toward  the  shore,  and  all 

The  surface  of  the  sea  alive  with  ships. 

Then  burns  Eneas'  helmet  and  his  crest ; 

His  golden  shield  pours  out  great  flashing  flames.  -M 


Book    v.  407 


As  when  at  night  1  blood-red  comet  glares; 
Or  blazing  Sirius  bringing  pett  and  dronth 

On  stricken  mortals,  in  his  rising  Bhedfl 
An  ominous  light,  and  saddens  all  the  sky. 


/ 


170 


Yet  TumilS  his  tudacioot  confidence 
Bates  not,  resolved  upon  the  shores  to  tling 

His  forces,  and  drive  hack  the  coming  foe. 

"What  ye  desired  is  come,"  he  cries;   "to  crush 

The  enemy  in  fair  tight.      Now  Mars  himself, 

O  warriors,  is  in  your  power.      Each  now  J75 

Bethink  him  of  his  wife  and  of  his  home, 

And  call  to  mind  the  great  deeds  of  his  sires. 

Unchallenged  let  us  meet  them  by  the  wave, 

While  in  disorder  they  attempt  to  land 

With  slippery  steps.  |   Fortune  assists  the  bold."  j8o 

He  said;   and  pondered  whom  he  should  lead  on 

Against  the  foe,  to  whom  entrust  the  siege. 


Meanwhile  from  his  tall  ships  /Eneas  lands 
His  troops  by  bridges.      M.mv  watch  the  waves 
Retreating,  and  upon  the  shallows  leap  ;  3«s 

While  others  trust  to  oars.      Tarchon  surv 
A  portion  of  the  strand  where  all  is  smooth, 


408  The  Alneid. 

And  where  the  wavelets  in  unbroken  curves 

Lap  on  the  quiet  beach,  then  turns  his  prow, 

And  cries:  "Now  bend  upon  your  sturdy  oars,  390 

My  chosen  band,  and  urge  your  vessels  on! 

Cleave  with  your  beaks  this  hostile  shore !     Each  keel 

Shall  plough  its  furrow ;  nor  shall  I  refuse 

To  wreck  my  ship  in  such  a  port,  if  we 

But  gain  the  shore !  "     This  said,  the  crews  at  once       39s 

Rise  on  their  oars,  and  urge  the  foaming  ships 

Upon  the  Latian  strand,  until  their  beaks 

Touch  the  dry  land,  and  every  ship  unharmed ; 

All,  Tarchon,  save  thy  own.     For  while  she,  dashed 

Upon  the  shallows,  on  the  fatal  ridge  400 

Hung,  long  suspended,  in  the  laboring  surge 

She  breaks  asunder,  and  amid  the  waves 

The  crew  are  all  exposed ;  the  broken  oars 

And  floating  benches  clog  and  stop  their  way  ; 

While  the  receding  tide  drags  back  their  feet. 

No  slow  delay  keeps  Turnus  back;  but  swift 

He  hurries  his  whole  army  to  the  shore, 

And  ranges  them  against  the  foe.     The  alarm 

Is  sounded.     First  against  the  rustic  ranks 

./Eneas  leads  the  attack ;  an  omen  this  410 


Book     \.  409 

0(  coming  slaughter  'mid  the  Latian  ho  J  . 

Theron  18  slain,  I  warrior  huge,  who  BOUght 

Of  his  own  choice  Apneas,  who  with  sword, 
Through  brazen  shield,  and  corslet  rough  w  ith  gold, 
Pierces  his  side.     Then  Lichas  next  he  emit    , 

Who  from  his  mother's  womb  was  cut,  and  vowed 

To  Phoebus,  since  in  infancy  he  'scaped 

The  dangerous  steel.     A  little  farther  on, 

Huge  Gyas,  and  the  hardy  Cisseus  fall, 

While  they  with  clubs  were  striking  down  the  troops.  4*0 

The  arms  of  Hercules  availed  them  naught  ; 

N    :   their  own  strength  of  hand  ;    nor  that  they  had 

Melampus  for  their  sire,  Alcides'  mate, 

While  earth  supplied  his  toils.      At  Pharus  too, 

Full  in  his  mouth,  while  clamoring  boastful  words,        4*5 

He  hurls  a  spear.      Thou,  Cvdon,  too,  while  sad 

Following  thy  Clytius,  thy  new  love,  his  cheeks 

Tinged  with  the  yellow  down  oi  youth,  hadst  fallen 

Beneath  the  Trojan  arm,  a  piteous  sight, 

Oblivious  of  the  love  thou  hadst  for  youths,  43° 

Had  not  a  band  of  brothers,  seven  in  all, 

The  sons  of  Phorcus,  stood  against  the  toe. 

Each  threw  a  dart;    some  glance  from  helm  and  shield, 

W  hile  some,   just  grazing,  Venus  turns  aside. 

5* 


410  The  Alneid. 

./Eneas  then  to  trusty  Achates  speaks: —  43s 

"  Supply  me  now  with  javelins ;  for  not  one 
Of  those  which  on  the  Trojan  fields  once  pierced 
The  bodies  of  the  Greeks,  this  hand  shall  hurl 
In  vain  against  the  Rutuli."     With  that, 
He  grasps  and  throws  a  mighty  spear.     It  flies,  +40 

And  through  the  brazen  plates  of  Mseon's  shield 
It  pierces,  cleaving  corslet  through  and  breast. 
To  him  Alcanor  flies,  with  his  right  hand 
Sustains  his  dying  brother;  but  again 
A  spear  is  hurled,  and  passes  through  his  arm,  44s 

And,  reddened  with  his  blood,  flies  on  its  course; 
And  from  his  shoulder  hangs  the  lifeless  arm. 
Then  from  his  brother's  body  Numitor 
Plucks  out  the  dart,  and  at  ./Eneas  aims 
The  weapon,  but  in  vain  ;  for,  turned  aside  450 

From  him,  it  grazes  great  Achates'  thigh. 
Clausus  of  Cures,  trusting  in  his  youth, 
Now  comes,  and  with  his  sharp  spear  driven  deep 
Stabs  Dryops  'neath  the  chin,  and  through  the  throat, 
While  speaking,  snatching  at  one  thrust  both  voice        45s 
And  life  away;   his  forehead  strikes  the  earth  ; 
The    blood    flows   from    his    mouth.      Three   Thracians 
too, 


B    v     v.  4 1  i 


ot*  lofty  Borean  family,  and  three 
'Their  father  [dai  sent  from  [trnara 

Their  native  land,  he  llays,  w  ith  varicuis  fate. 

Halesus,  and  Messapus  with  hi>  ite 
And  the  Auruncan  cohorts,  all  come  up. 

Now  on  this  side  and  now  on  that,  they  strive 
To  heat  each  other  back.  The  battle-ground 
[fl  oil  the  very  entrance  ol    the  land.  4*s 

As  in  the  skv's  expanse,  the  warring  winds 
Are  matched  with  equal  force,  and  neither  they, 
Nor  clouds,  nor  seas  give  way  ;   on  either  side 
P    tibtfu]  and  long,  all  elements  opposed; 
So  clash  the  Trojan  and  the  Latian  hosts;  4-5 

Foot  fixed  to  foot,  and  man  confronting  man. 
But  in  another  place,  where,  scattered  wide, 
A  torrent  had  rolled  down  the  rocks,  ami  torn 
The  thickets  from  the  banks,  when  Pallas  saw 
The  Arcadians,  unaccustomed  to  contend  4-< 

On  foot,  flying  before  the  Latian  hosts, — 
For  o'er  the  rugged  soil  they  could  not  urge 
Their  horses,  —  he,  the  sole  expedient  left 
In  this  distress,  inflames  their  warlike  zeal, 
Now  with  entreaties,  now  with  bitter  words.  4*> 

"And  whither  do  ye  fly,  my  men  ?  "   he  cries  ; 


4 1 2  The   Aineid. 

"By  your  own  selves,  and  all  your  gallant  deeds, 

By  Evander's  name,  your  chief,  and  by  the  fields 

Ye  have  won,  and  by  my  rising  hopes  that  now 

Grow  emulous  to  gain  my  father's  praise,  485 

Trust  not  in  flight.     We  with  our  swords  must  cut 

A  passage  through  ;   there,  where  the  densest  mass 

Opposes,  there  your  country  calls  both  you 

And  me  your  leader.     No  divinity 

Presses  against  us.      Mortal  men  ourselves,  490 

We  deal  with  none  but  mortal  foes.     We  have 

As  many  souls,  as  many  hands,  as  theirs. 

Behold !  the  mighty  ocean  hems  us  in. 

Land  too  we  lack  for  flight.     Is  it  the  sea, 

Or  Troy,  to  which  our  path  shall  be?"     He  said;         49s 

And  dashed  into  the  thickest  of  the  foes. 

First,  Lagus,  led  by  inauspicious  fates, 

Confronts  him,  coming  with  a  ponderous  stone. 

Whirling  his  lance,  the  youth  transfixes  him 

Between  the  spine  and  ribs,  and  backward  draws  500 

His  spear  that  in  his  body  stuck.     Meanwhile 

Hisbo  attempts  to  strike  him  from  above, 

But  fails,  against  his  hope.     For  as  he  comes 

Rushing,  unguardedly,  and  mad  with  rage 


B  '('/•    .v.  .;  i  | 

At  his  companion's  death,  upon  hi  s°$ 

Pallas  receives  him  ;  m  bit  swollen  lun 
The  steel  is  buried.     Next  on  Sthenelui 
He  charges,  and  upon  Anchemolus, 
Ot   Rhostus'  ancient  race,  who  dared  to  invade 
His  step-dame's  bed.     Ye  also  on  the  field 
Twin-brothers,  Thvmber  and  Laridefl  fell, 
The  sons  of    DailCUS,  so  alike  that  oft 
The  pleasing  error  in  each  lorm  and  lace 
.ived  your  very  parents  and  their  kin. 
But  cruel  marks  oi   difference  on  both  5 « 5 

Pallas  affixed  :    tor  his  Kvandrian  blade 
S:ruck  cjff  thy  head,  O  Thvmber;   and  from  thee, 
Was  severed,  O  Larides,  thy  right  hand, 
Whose  dying  ringers  twitch,  and  clutch  the  steel. 

The  Arcadians  now  by  this  success  inflamed, 
And  by  their  hero's  gallant  deeds,  are  armed 
With  mingled  rage  and  shame  against  their  iocs. 
Then  RhcEteilS,  in  his  chariot  riving  by, 
The  spear  of  Pallas  picrCCS,  and  gives  space- 
To  Ilus  for  a  while  to  escape  his  death  ; 
1     r  against  Ilus  he  had  hurled  his  lance, 
Which  Rhuetcus  midway  intercepts,  as  he, 


414  The   Aineid. 

Close  pressed  by  Teuthras  and  by  Tyres,  flies. 

Rolled  from  his  chariot,  dying,  on  the  field 

He  falls.     And  as  in  summer,  when  the  winds  530 

Wished  for,  arise,  the  shepherd  scatters  fire 

About  the  woods,  the  tracts  that  lie  between 

Kindle  and  spread,  till  all  the  extended  fields 

Blaze  in  one  dreadful  battle-line  of  flame; 

He  sitting,  sees  the  fire's  triumphant  march; —  53s 

So  the  whole  valor  of  thy  troops  combines 

In  one,  O  Pallas,  and  assists  thy  strength. 

But  now  Halesus,  terrible  in  war, 
Bears  down  against  them,  covered  with  his  shield. 
Ladon  and  Pheres  and  Demodocus  54° 

He  slays,  and  with  his  flashing  sword  strikes  off 
The  right  hand  of  Strymonius,  reaching  out 
To  clutch  his  throat ;  then  with  a  stone  he  smites 
The  brow  of  Thoas,  scattering  splintered  bones 
And  bloody  brains.     His  father  in  the  woods  54s 

Had  hid  Halesus;  his  prophetic  soul 
Presaged  his  fate.     Soon  as  the  aged  sire 
His  eyelids  closed  in  death,  the  Destinies 
Laid  on  his  son  their  hands,  devoting  him 
To  the  Evandrian  spear.     Him  Pallas  seeks;  ss° 

But  first  he  offers  up  this  prayer  :   "  Grant  now, 


Book   x.  1 1 5 

o  father  Tiber,  to  this  steel  I  poise, 

Successful  flight  through  strong  Halesus*  brea  t. 

Oil  thine  oak  his  arms  ami  spoilt  shall  liar. 
The  god  gave  ear;    but  while  Hale  reened  555 

His  friend  Imaon,  hapless,  he  exposed 
His  breast  defenceless  to  the  Arcadian  spear. 

But  Lausus,  in  himself  a  warlike  host, 

Surfers  not  that  his  troops  should  be  dismayed 

At  the  dire  carnage  by  this  warrior  dealt.  5fo 

First  Abas,  who  confronts  him,  he  strikes  down, 

The  battle's  knot  and  stay.      Down  fall  the  sons 

Of  Arcadv,  the  Etruscan  warriors  fall  ; 

And  you,  ye  Trojans,  by  the  Greeks  unscathed  ! 

Their  leaders  and  their  forces  matched,  both  hosts  565 

Clash  in  the  conflict.     Those  upon  the  rear 

Press  thick  upon  the  front ;   nor  does  the  throng 

Leave  room  to  use  their  weapons  or  their  hands. 

Here  Pallas  presses  on,  there  Lausus  comes 

Against  him  ;   near  alike  they  stand  in  age, 

Distinguished  both  for  beauty.      But  for  them 

Fortune  had  not  ordained  that  they  should  1 

lin  their  native  land,      "let  Heaven's  great  king 
Suffered  them  not  to  meet  in  arms;   their  fait 


4 1 6  The   Aineici. 

Await  them  soon  from  a  superior  foe.  575 

Meanwhile  as  Turnus  in  his  rapid  car 

Cuts  through  the  opposing  ranks,  his  sister  fair 

Warns  him  to  haste  to  Lausus'  aid.     When  he 

His  comrades  saw,  "  'T  is  time  now  to  desist 

From  battle,"  he  exclaimed  :   "  for  I  alone  580 

Must  deal  with  Pallas ;   he  is  due  to  me 

Alone.     Would  that  his  father  might  be  here 

To  see  us!  "     Saying  this,  at  his  command 

His  followers  quit  the  field.     But  wondering  much 

At  the  Rutulians'  retreat,  and  these  commands  s*s 

Imperious,  Pallas  in  amazement  looks 

On  Turnus,  and  with  frowning  glance  aloof 

Surveys  his  mighty  frame  from  head  to  foot. 

And  moving  forward,  answers  thus  his  words:  — 

"  Either  for  winning  spoils  of  triumph  now,  590 

Or  for  a  glorious  death,  I  shall  be  praised. 

For  either  lot  my  father  is  prepared. 

Away  then  with  thy  threats!"     Saying  this,  he  stepped 

Into  the  middle  of  the  field.     The  blood 

Ran  icy  cold  within  the  Arcadians'  hearts.  595 

Down  from  his  chariot  Turnus  leapt,  prepared 

To  meet  him  face  to  face.     As  from  his  lair 


Btoi  x.  417 

On  high,  a  lion  when  he  sees  a  hull 
Stand  meditating  battle  in  .1  field, 

Ami  Hies  to  DUCd  him,  so  comes  Turnus  on.  ««o 

As  soon  as  Pallas  trusted  that  his  spear 
Could  reach  his  foe,  he  made  the  first  advance  ; 
G  1  Fortune,  though  with  strength  ill-matched  with  his, 
Might  speed  his  daring  hand;   then  to  the  heavens 
Appealing,  speaks  :   "  Alcides,  hear  my  prayer  !  605 

By  mv  sire's  hospitality,  the  boards 
Where  thou,  a  stranger,  didst  partake  with  him, 
Aid,  I  beseech,  my  daring  deed  begun. 
May  Turnus'  dying  eyes  behold  me  strip 
His  bloody  armor  from  his  limbs  half  dead,  *•« 

And  see  me  conqueror  !  "     Alcides  heard 
The  youth,  and  deep  within  his  heart  suppressed 
A  heavy  groan,  with  unavailing  tears. 
Then  with  consoling  words  the  Sire  supreme 
Addressed  his  son  :   "To  every  one  his  day  615 

Stands  fixed  by  fate.     The  term  of  mortal  life 
Ts  brief,  and  irretrievable  to  all. 
But  to  extend  the  period  of  its  tame 
By  noble  actions,  this  is  virtue's  work. 
Beneath  Troy's  lofty  walls  what  sons  of  gods  610 

Have  fallen  :    yea  with  them  e'en   Sarpedon  tell, 
53 


41 8  The  Alneid. 

My  offspring ;  Turnus  also  by  the  fates 

Is  called,  and  nears  the  verge  of  life."     He  said; 

And  turned  his  eyes  from  the  Rutulian  fields. 

But  Pallas  hurls  a  spear  with  strength  immense,  625 

And  from  his  scabbard  draws  his  gleaming  sword. 

The  weapon  on  the  shoulder's  plating  glanced, 

And  through  the  buckler's  border  forced  its  way, 

And  'gainst  the  mighty  frame  of  Turnus  grazed. 

But  he,  with  aim  deliberate  poising  long  630 

A  steel-tipped  javelin,  against  Pallas  hurled 

The  shaft,  and  cried :  "See  whether  ours  be  not 

The  weapon  that  shall  make  the  deeper  wound!" 

He  said ;  and  through  the  middle  of  the  shield, 

With  quivering  blow  the  pointed  javelin  pierced  ;  63S 

Through  plates  of  steel  and  brass,  through  fold  on  fold 

Of  tough  bull's  hide,  through  barriers  of  wrought  mail, 

Till  deep  into  his  breast  the  weapon  sinks. 

The  hot  shaft  from  the  wound  he  strives  in  vain 

To  draw  ;  from  the  same  passage  gushes  out  64o 

His  life-blood  and  his  life.     Down  on  his  wound 

He  falls ;   his  armor  clangs  ;  with  bloody  mouth 

He  bites  the  hostile  earth  in  pangs  of  death. 

But  Turnus,  striding  over  him,  exclaims:  — 


Book   x.  1 1  <i 

H  Yc  men  of  Arcady,  be  sure  to  bear  *4s 

These  words  of  mine  to  Kvander.      In  such  plight 

As  he  deserved,  I  send  his  Pallas  back. 
Whatever  honor  may  be  in  .1  tomb, 
Whatever  solace  lies  in  funeral  rites, 

I  freely  grant.     His  hospitality 

Accorded  to  ./Eneas,  no  slight  cost 

Shall  be  to  him."     With  that,  he  pressed  the  corpse 

With  his  left  foot,  and  seized  and  tore  away 

The  heavy  belt  (stamped  with  a  tale  of  crime, 

I I  iw  in  one  nuptial  night  a  band  of  youths  655 
Were  foully  butchered,  and  their  bridal  beds 
Drenched  in  their  blood.      Clonus  Eurytides 

Had  wrought  the  story  in  a  mass  of  gold). 

Grasping  this  spoil,  Turnus  exults  with  joy. 

Alas,  how  ignorant  is  man  of  fate;  662 

Elated  with  success,  how  hard  for  him 

To  keep  within  his  bounds!     The  time  will  come 

When  Turnus  shall  well  wish  that  he  had  bought 

At  a  dear  price,  that  Pallas  had  been  spared. 

Then  will  he  hate  these  spoils,  and  hate  the  day. 

But  Pallas  stretched  upon  his  shield  is  borne 
Away  by  a  group  of  friends,  with  groans  and  tears. 
O  grief  and  glory  of  thy  sire,  to  whom 


42 o  The   Aineid. 

They  bear  thee  back !     This  first  day  to  the  war 
Gave  thee,  and  snatches  thee  away.     Yet  thou  67o 

Didst  leave  vast  heaps  of  the  Rutulians  slain.  /v- 

j  — ~~~~~~- 

And  now,  not  rumor,  but  more  certain  word 
Of  this  disaster  to  iEneas  flies : 
That  on  the  narrow  edge  of  ruin  dire 
His  friends  were  driven  ;  and  the  hour  to  help  67s 

The  flying  Trojans,  urgent.     With  his  sword 
He  mows  his  way  amid  the  nearest  ranks, 
His  angry  blade  forcing  a  passage  wide, 
Seeking  for  Turnus,  who  with  pride  exults 
In  his  new  victory.     Before  him  now,  680 

Pallas,  Evander,  and  the  memories 
Of  those  first  banquets  where  he  sat  a  guest, 
And  the  right  hands  he  grasped,  all  fill  his  eyes. 
Four  youths  he  seizes,  sons  of  Sulmo ;  four 
Whom  Ufens  reared,  an  offering  to  the  shade  6*5 

Of  Pallas,  destined  with  their  captive's  blood 
To  drench  the  fires  upon  his  funeral  pile. 

At  Magus  next  he  hurled  his  hostile  spear; 

Who  deftly  stoops;  the  whizzing  javelin  flies 

Above  his  head.     Embracing  then  his  knees,  M 


B  ok     v.  \:  i 

Magus  thus  pleads  :    "  Ah,  hv  thv  father1!  sh.ule, 
Ami  by  thy  hopes  of  voung  lulus  spare 
This  lite,  tor  my  sire's  s^ke,  .iml  for  mv  BOIl'll 

I  have  a  stately  palace,  ami  within 

Talents  of  graven  silver  buried  lie ; 

And  weight  ot  Wrought  ami  unwrought  gold  I  own. 

T  is  not  on  me  the  Trojan  victory  turns; 
Nor  can  one  life  make  such  a  difference.'1 

To  whom  /Eneas  answered:    "  Keep  thv  gold, 
Thy  silver  talents  for  thy  sons.      All  rules  700 

Of  ransom  and  of  interchange  in  war 
Were  swept  away  by  Turnus,  when  he  took 
The  life  of  Pallas.     So  Anchises'  shade, 
And  so  lulus  deems."      With  that,  he  grasped 
With  his  left  hand  his  helmet,  and  bent  back  70s 

His  neck,  and,  as  he  begged  for  mercy,  plunged 
The  weapon  to  the  hilt  into  his  breast. 

A  little  farther  on,  Ha?monides, 

The  Priest  of  Phoebus  and  of  Dian,  stood; 

brows  with  fillets  and  with  mitre  bound;  -13 

In  glistening  armor  and  refulgent  robes. 
-/Eneas  meets  him,  and  across  the  plain 
Pursues;   and  standing  o'er  him  as  he  kills, 


422  The   sEneid. 

Devotes  him  to  the  gloomy  shades  of  death. 

Serestus  gathers  up  and  bears  away  71s 

His  arms,  a  trophy  to  the  god  of  war. 

Then  Caeculus,  of  Vulcan's  race  derived, 

And  Umbro,  coming  from  the  Marsian  hills, 

Renew  the  fight.     Raging  against  them  moves 

The  Trojan  chief.     He  with  his  blade  smites  off  7»° 

Anxur's  left  hand,  and  shears  his  buckler's  rim. 

Some  mighty  spell,  or  boast  he  had  pronounced, 

And  thought  that  in  his  words  a  virtue  lay. 

Perhaps  to  heaven  itself  his  soul  was  raised, 

Hoping  to  gain  gray  hairs,  and  length  of  years.  715 

Next  Tarquitus,  whom  Dryope  the  nymph 

Had  borne  to  sylvan  Faunus,  threw  himself, 

In  gleaming  armor,  'gainst  the  chief  incensed ; 

Who  hurls  a  spear,  and  makes  of  no  avail 

His  breastplate  and  his  heavy  shield  ;   then  down  730 

To  earth  he  smites  him,  pleading  sore,  while  much 

He  fain  would  say.     Then  rolling  o'er  the  corpse 

Still  warm,  thus  speaks  in  wrath  :   "  Thou  dreaded  foe, 

Lie  there!     No  mother  dear  shall  lay  thy  head 

In  earth.     No  tomb  within  thy  native  land  735 


Book  \.  4,23 

Shall  weigh  upon  thy  limbs.      Thou  shall  he  left 

I     birds  ol  prey,  or  thrown  into  the  wavi   . 
Where  hungry  \\>\\  shall  feast  upon  thv  wounds  I" 

Next  Lucas  and  Antaeus  he  pursues, 

Turnus'  chief  leaders;  the  strong  Numa  then,  -4> 

And  Camera  with  the  yellow  locks,  the  son 

01  noble  Volscens,  wealthiest  in  land 

C^t    all  the  Autonian  nation,  and  who  ruled 

Silent  Amyclae.     As  ^Egiron  once, 

Wielding,  't  is  said,  a  hundred  arms  and  hands,  -4; 

And  flashing  flames  from  fifty  mouths  and  breasts, 

W  hen  'gainst  Jove's  thunders,  on  BO  many  .shields 

lie  clashed,  and  drew  so  many  swords;   e'en  so 

Victorious  j£neas,  when  his  hlade 

Grew  warm,  raged  over  all  the  field,  yea,  even  jfo 

Against  Nipruuus  with  his  four  steeds,  turned  ; 

But  when  they  saw  him  coming,  from  afar 

In  his  dire  wrath,  in  fear  they  turned  and  fled, 

And  rushing  wildly  overturned  their  chief, 

And  whirled  along  his  chariot  to  the  shore. 

i         brothers,  Lucagus  and  Liger,  now 
(     me  driving  on,  by  two  white  horses  drawn  ; 


424  The   Aineid. 

While  Liger  holds  the  reins,  his  brother  swings 

A  naked  sword.     i*Eneas  could  not  brook 

This  furious  onset.     With  opposing  spear  760 

He  bears  against  them,  towering  in  his  might. 

Then  Liger  cries:   "No  steeds  of  Diomed, 

Nor  chariot  of  Achilles,  now  thou  seest, 

Nor  Phrygian  fields.     Now,  and  upon  this  ground 

Shall  end  the  war,  and  thy  own  life  !  "     So  flew  765 

The  loud  and  raving  words  from  Liger's  lips. 

But  not  with  words  the  hero  answered  him, 

But  hurls  his  javelin.     Then  as  Lucagus 

Bends  o'er  the  lash,  and  with  his  sharp  steel  goads 

His  coursers,  and,  his  left  foot  forward  thrown,  770 

Prepares  for  battle,  through  the  lower  rims 

Of  his  bright  shield  the  weapon  pierces  deep 

To  his  left  groin.     Down  from  his  chariot  thrown, 

He  writhes  upon  the  ground  in  pangs  of  death. 

Then  thus  iEneas  speaks,  with  bitter  words: —  775 

"  No  fault  of  speed  in  thy  swift  horses'  feet 

Betrayed  thee,  Lucagus:   no  shadows  vain 

Affrighted  them,  to  turn  and  fly.     Thyself, 

Thou  leavest  thy  chariot,  leaping  to  the  ground!" 

With  that  he  seized  the  steeds.     But  slipping  down        780 

From  the  same  car,  his  wretched  brother  stretched 


Book 


425 


His  lumds,  unarmed,  beseeching  :  "  By  thyself) 

And  by  the  parents  who  begOl  such  worth, 

0  Trojan  hero,  spare  the  life  of  <»nc 

Who  begs  tor  mercy  !  "      Hut  £netl  said,  7«$ 

As  still  he  pleaded  :    "  Not  such  w  ere  thv  words 
A  moment  since.      Die!    let  not  brother  leave 
A  brother  thus."      Then  deep  within  his  breast, 
The  spirit's  latent  seat,  he  plunged  his  steel. 

Such  were  the  deaths  the  Dardan  chieftain  dealt,  790 

While  raging  like  a  whirlwind  or  a  flood 
Around  the  fields;   until  at  length  the  boy 
Ascanius,  and  the  warriors  whom  their  foes 
Besieged  in  vain,  come  issuing  from  their  camp. 

Jove  of  his  own  accord,  meanwhile,  addressed  795 

His  spouse  :   "  My  sister  and  my  consort  dear, 
'T  is  Venus,  as  thou  saidst,  who  doth  sustain 
The  Trojan  powers:   thy   judgment  did  not  err. 
These  heroes  have  no  swift  right  hands  for  war, 
No  courage  stern,  nor  patience  to  endure." 
To  whom,  submissive,  Juno  thus  replied  :  — 
"My  spouse,  most  radiantly  fair,  why  thus 
Torment  one  who  is  sick  at  heart,  and  dreads 
54 


SC3 


426  The   Alneid. 

Thy  stern  commands  ?     If  what  I  once  possessed 

Were  mine,  as  mine  it  should  have  been,  the  power      8oS 

I  had  to  move  thy  love,  thou  wouldst  not  now, 

Omnipotent,  refuse  me  this  request : 

That  I  may  rescue  Turn  us  from  the  strife, 

And  to  his  father  Daunus  bring  him  safe. 

Now  he  must  perish,  and  his  pious  blood  810 

Pour  out  to  satisfy  the  Trojans'  hate. 

Yet,  from  our  race  he  draws  his  lineage 

(Pilumnus  in  the  fourth  degree  his  sire). 

And  oft  with  liberal  hands  and  many  a  gift 

Has  heaped  thy  courts."     To  whom  the  Olympian  king 

Briefly  replied  :   "  If  for  this  fated  youth  816 

Time  and  reprieve  from  present  death  be  sought, 

And  't  is  thy  will  that  I  should  thus  decree, 

Then  snatch  him  from  impending  fate  by  flight. 

Thus  far  indulgence  is  allowed.     But  if  820 

Beneath  these  prayers  of  thine  there  lurks  some  boon 

Of  deeper  import,  and  thou  think'st  to  shift 

And  change  the  whole  war,  then  an  empty  hope 

Is  thine."     But  Juno,  weeping  :  "  What  if  thou 

Shouldst  with  thy  will  grant  what  thy  words  refuse,       825 

And  Turnus'  life  remain  assured  ?     Yet  now, 

A  heavy  doom  awaits  this  guiltless  one  ; 


B   Ok     X.  .\2J 

I     else  I  wander  pride  of  truth.     Hut  O, 
That  I  may  rather  be  by  groundlc 
Deceived;  and  thou,  who  bail  the  power,  rever  c 
To  better  endi  the  course  thou  bast  begun!" 

Thus  bavins  spoken,  from  the  lofty  sky, 
Wrapped  in  b  cloud,  she  sped,  driving  a  .storm 
Down  through  the  sir;  and  to  the  Trojan  lines 

And  the  Laurentian  camp  pursued  her  way.  «ss 

Then  from  thin  mist,  a  wondrous  sight  to  see, 
She  shapes  a  phantom  in  Aneas'  form, 

ved  in  Trojan  arms,  and  counterfeits 
His  shield,  and  crest  upon  his  head  divine; 
(>ives  empty  words,  and  soulless  sounding  voice,  i4<> 

And  imitated  gait;   e'en  like  the  forms 
That  rlit  about,  't  is  said,  when  death  is  parsed, 
Or  such  as  cheat  the  senses  in  our  sleep. 
The  airy  image  in  the  battle's  front 

Leaps  with  exultant  step,  and  challenges  »4s 

The  warrior  with  his  darts  and  taunting  words. 
Turnus  comes  pressing  on,  and  from  atar 
He  burlfl  a  whizzing  lance:    the  phantom  turns 
1'     back.      Then  Turnus,  thinking  that  bis  foe 
Was  yielding  ground,  with  his  retreating  pace,  l$J 


428  The  sEneid. 

Swells  with  a  vain  and  empty  hope,  and  cries :  — 

"  iEneas,  whither  now  ?     Do  not  desert 

Thy  plighted  nuptials!     This  right  hand  of  mine 

Shall  give  the  land  thou  hast  crossed  the  seas  to  seek ! " 

So  shouting  he  pursues,  with  brandished  sword,  855 

Nor  sees  his  dream  of  triumph  fade  in  air. 

By  chance  there  was  a  vessel  lying  moored 

Beside  a  rock,  with  steps  and  bridge  prepared, 

In  which  the  King  Osinius  had  been  borne 

From  Clusium's  shores.     Hither  as  if  in  fear  86* 

The  image  of  iEneas  flies,  and  seeks 

A  hiding-place.     Turnus,  as  swift,  pursues ; 

Passes  all  barriers,  leaps  across  the  bridge ; 

But  scarce  had  reached  the  prow,  when  Juno  breaks 

The  cable,  and  upon  the  ebbing  tide  865 

Hurries  the  ship  away.     The  airy  sprite 

Then  cares  to  hide  no  further,  but  is  borne 

Aloft,  and  mingles  with  a  dusky  cloud. 

Meanwhile  ^Eneas  seeks  his  absent  foe 

For  battle,  sending  many  a  hero  down  87° 

To  death  ;  while  Turnus  o'er  the  sea  is  swept 

Before  the  gale.     Backward  he  looks,  nor  knows, 

Thankless  for  safety,  what  the  event  may  mean. 


Book  x.  4. 

Then  lifting  both  bis  bandl  to  heaven,  be  cries:  — 
"Omnipotent  Creator,  didst  thou    iud  «t$ 

That  I  deserved  such  dire  disgrace  M  ti. 

And  does  thy  will  decree  Buch  punishment? 

Whence  do  I  COme,  and  whither  am  I  home3 

What  flight  is  this,  and  what  am   I  who  tiy  ? 

Can  I  behold  again  the  Latian  walls  •*> 

Or  camp-      What  will  that  hand  of  warriors  sav, 

Mv  followers  in  arms,  and  whom   I  thus 

Basely  abandon  to  a  cruel  death  ? 

I  'en  now  I  see  them  scattered,  and  can  hear 
The  groans  of  those  who  tall.      What  can  I  do  :  88$ 

What  earth  can  now  yawn  deep  enough  for  me? 
Pity  me,  rather,  ()  ve  stormy  winds, 
And  drive  this  ship,  most  heartily  I  pray, 
Upon  the  rocks  and  cliffs  and  sandy  shoals, 
Where  neither  the  Rutulians  nor  my  tame  fca 

L\\n  follow  me!  "      With  words  like  these,  his  soul 
Hither  and  thither  fluctuates  and  turns; 
Whether,  for  such  disgrace,  to  plunge  his  sword 
Into  his  frenzied  breast,  or  throw   hiflttdi 
Into  the  waves,  and  swimming  seek  the  ikoi 
I  'gainst  the  Trojans  take  the  Held  again. 
Thrice  he  attempted  either  course;    and  thrue 


43  o  The   Aineid. 

Did  Juno,  pitying  him,  restrain  the  youth. 

So,  onward  he  was  borne,  with  favoring  tide, 

And  reached  at  length  his  old  paternal  home.  9°° 


But  prompted  now  by  Jove,  with  fiery  zeal 

Mezentius  takes  the  field,  and  leads  the  attack 

'Gainst  the  exulting  Trojans.     Then  at  once 

The  Tuscan  troops  rush  on  him,  him  alone, 

With  all  their  hoarded  hate,  and,  pressing  close,  905 

Assail  the  warrior  with  their  showers  of  darts. 

He,  like  a  rock  that  juts  into  the  sea, 

Braving  the  fury  of  the  winds  and  floods, 

And  all  the  threats  of  heaven,  stands  fixed  and  firm. 

Hebrus  the  son  of  Dolichaon  down  9'° 

To  earth  he  strikes  ;  and  with  him  Latagus, 

And  Palmus,  as  he  flies ;  but  Latagus 

First  with  a  huge  stone  smites  upon  the  face ; 

Then  Palmus,  hamstrung,  leaves  upon  the  ground 

To  roll,  and  gives  his  armor  to  his  son  9»s 

Lausus,  to  wear,  also  his  plumy  crest. 

Phrygian  Evanthes  too  he  overthrows; 

And  Mimas,  Paris'  mate,  of  equal  years, 

Son  of  Theano  and  of  Amycus, 

Born  on  the  very  night  when  Hecuba  9ao 


B   k  x.  431 

Brought  Paris  forth,  the  firebrand  of  her  dream. 
He  in  his  native  city  buried  lie  ; 
Hut  Mimas  on  Laurentian  shores,  unknown. 
And,  as  from  mountain  heights  pursued  by  houi 

\   wild  boar  whom  the  piny   Vesul 

1  the  Laurentian  marsh  tor  many  a  year 

Has  sheltered,  and  the  reedy  thickets  led, 
When  caught  amid  the  toils,  he  makes  a  stand, 
Furious,  with  bristling  back,  while  none  may  dare- 
Oppose,  or  venture  near  him,  but  with  shouts 
And   javelins  at  a  distance  hem  him  in  ; 
Hut  he,  unterrihed,  on  every  side 
With  a  deliberate  resistance  turns, 
Gnashing  his  tusks,  and  shaking  from  his  back 
The  lances;  —  so  with  those  whom  righteous  wrath       91s 
Against  Mezentius  fires;   not  one  who  dar 
To  meet  him  in  close  combat  ;   trom  afar 
They  send  their  clamorous  cries  and  galling  shafts. 

From  ancient  Corythus  had  come  a  Greek, 

Acron  by  name,  who  had  Left  his  marriage  rites  940 

I         tnsummated,  and  had  joined  the  war. 

Far  off  Mezentius  sees  him  plunging  thro 

The  ranks  confused,  decked  gayly  in  the  plun 


432 


The  Aineid. 


And  crimson  favors  of  his  plighted  bride. 
Then,  as  an  unfed  lion,  here  and  there 
Roaming  about  the  lofty  stalls,  and  driven 
By  maddening  hunger,  if  by  chance  he  espies 
A  timorous  kid,  or  stag  with  stately  horns, 
Exults,  with  open  jaws  and  mane  erect, 
And  crouching,  fastens  on  his  prey,  and  laves 
His  cruel  mouth  in  gore,  —  so  rushes  on 
Mezentius  through  his  enemies'  thick  ranks. 
Down  falls  the  unhappy  Acron  to  the  ground, 
And  dying,  spurns  the  dark  earth  with  his  heels, 
And  bathes  his  broken  weapons  with  his  blood. 


945 


950 


955 


The  warrior  now  disdains  to  hurl  his  lance, 

And  slay  Orodes  as  he  flies,  with  wound 

Unseen,  but  runs  and  meets  him  face  to  face 

In  close  encounter;   not  in  stratagem 

Superior,  but  in  arms.     Then  with  his  foot  960 

Upon  his  fallen  foe,  and  on  his  spear 

Leaning,  exclaims:   "Behold,  my  men,  here  lies  — 

No  despicable  portion  of  the  war  — 

The  tall  Orodes."     With  a  shout,  his  friends 

Repeat  the  exulting  paean.     But  the  chief  965 

Utters  these  dying  words:   "Whoe'er  thou  art, 


Book 


ng  shalt  thou,  victorious,  exult 
O'er  me,  nor  .shall  I  now  die  unavenged. 

A   destiny  like  mine  awaits  thee  tO 

And  on  these  very  fields  shalt  thou  soon  li<  970 

To  whom   Me/entitis  with  a  hitter  .smile:  — 
"  Pie  then  !      Hut  as  tor  me,  the  sire  of  gods 
And  sovereign  ot    men  will  see  to  that." 

ftying,  from  his  breast  he  drew  the  steel. 
Then  stern  repose  and  iron-lidded  sleep 
Weighed  down  the  eves  that  closed  in  endless  night. 

Then  Cirdicus  strikes  oft*  Aleathous'  head  ; 

Sacrator  fells  Ilvdaspes;   Rapo's  sword 

Parthenius  and  the  hardy  Orses  smites; 

Clonius  and  Ericetes  fall  before  9«° 

apus'  steel  ;   one  from  Lis  restive  steed 
Thrown  down,  the  other  righting  foot  to  foot. 
'Gainst  him  the  Lycian  Agis  had  stepped  forth; 
But,  in  ancestral  valor  not  untried, 

Valerus  overthrows  him.      Thronius  next  9*s 

Is  slain  by  Salius,  he  by  Nealces'  hand, 
Famed  tor  his  skill  to  wing  the  viewless  shaft. 

Stern  Mars  now  held  in  equal  poise  the  deaths 
55 


434  The   Alneid. 

And  bitter  griefs  on  either  side.     Alike 

The  victors  and  the  vanquished  slew  and  fell.  990 

Nor  these,  nor  those  know  what  it  is  to  fly. 

The  gods  above  with  pitying  eyes  behold 

The  fruitless  rage  of  both,  and  grieve  to  see 

Such  woes  for  mortal  men.     Here  Venus  sees, 

And  there  Saturnian  Juno  views  the  strife,  995 

While  through  the  hosts  raves  pale  Tisiphone. 

But,  shaking  his  huge  lance,  Mezentius  stalks, 

Swelling  with  rage,  across  the  field.     So  moves 

Mighty  Orion,  when  his  footsteps  come 

Cleaving  a  passage  through  the  ocean  deeps,  1000 

His  shoulders  towering  high  above  the  waves ; 

Or,  bearing  in  his  hand  an  aged  ash 

From  the  high  mountains,  walks  upon  the  earth, 

And  hides  his  head  amid  the  misty  clouds. 

So  comes  Mezentius  in  his  armor  huge.  icoS 

iEneas  in  the  long  battalion  sees 

His  foe,  and  goes  to  meet  him.     Undismayed 

He  stands,  firm  in  his  large  and  massive  frame, 

And  waits  to  meet  his  noble  enemy. 

Then  measuring  with  his  eyes  what  distance  fits  i°io 

His  javelin's  force;   "Now  may  this  god  of  mine," 


B    h    I  4 

lie  cries,  "this  right  hand,  ami  tin-  Bpetf  I  wiild, 

I  mel     Thou,  Lausus,  thou  thyself,  I  swear, 
Clothed  in  this  robber's  ipoili  sh.ilt  ittnd  • 
A  trophy  of  Eneas'  fall !  "     He   aid, 

Ami  hurled  his  whizzing  ftpeif.      It  Hew  ami  glanced 

From  off  .-Eneas'  shield,  then  pierced  the  Bide 

Of  the  renowned  Antorcs,  him  who  \\a> 
V,  ides'  comrade,  ami  tVom  Argos  came, 
And   joined  Kvander,  settling  in  I  town 
Of  Italy.     He  hapless,  by  a  wound 

Meant  tor  another,  tails,  and  looks  to  heaven, 

Remembering  his  dear  Argos  as  he  di< 

Then  sped  /Eneas'  spear;   through  comave  orb 

Of  triple  brass,  through  quilted  linen  folds,  i  - 

Through  woven  work  of  three  hulls'-hideN  it  pierced, 

i  to  the  groin  ;   but  it  had  spent  its  force. 
Then  swiftly  from  his  side  .Eneas  drew 

Hi     word,  exulting  in  the  Tyrrhene  blood 

Thus  drawn,  and  pressed  upon  his  battled  toe.  i 

But  LailSUS  saw,  and  heaved  a  hitter  groan 

Ot    filial  love,  while  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks 

And  here,  thou  vouth  most  worthy  to  he  praised) 

Thee,  and  the  hard  fate  of  thy  piteous  death, 


436  The   sEneid. 

And  thy  most  noble  deeds,  I  shall  not  pass  1035 

In  silence,  if  an  act  so  great  as  thine 
Shall  be  believed  by  any  future  age! 

Encumbered,  and  disabled  by  his  wound, 

Mezentius  now  drew  back  with  faltering  steps, 

Trailing  the  hostile  spear  that  in  his  shield  1040 

Still  hung.     Then  forward  rushed  his  son,  amid 

The  armed  troops,  beneath  iEneas'  sword 

Just  raised  to  strike,  and,  keeping  him  at  bay 

Awhile,  sustained  the  shock.     With  ringing  shouts 

His  friends  support  him,  till  the  sire  withdrew,  1045 

Protected  by  the  buckler  of  the  son  ; 

And  from  a  distance  with  their  darts  repel 

The  foe.     Beneath  the  cover  of  his  shield, 

./Eneas  in  his  wrath  confronts  the  attack. 

As  when  the  clouds  pour  down  a  shower  of  hail,  1050 

The  swains  and  ploughmen  hurry  from  the  fields, 

And  in  some  safe  retreat  the  traveller  lurks, 

Or  'neath  the  river-banks,  or  in  rocky  clefts, 

While  pours  the  rain,  that  when  the  sun  returns 

They  may  pursue  the  labors  of  the  day;  1=55 

So,  overwhelmed  by  darts  on  every  side, 

./Eneas  bears  against  the  storm  of  war, 


B  i  '/•  .v.  j 

Till  it  has  spent  it>  thunder.      Chiding  then, 

Ami  threatening,  he  to  Lausui  calh  aloud: — 

"Whither  to  death  and  ruin  do  t  thotl  in  h,  ic6o 

Daring  to  aim  at  things  beyond  thy  strength  ? 
Thy  filial  love  betrays  thy  heedless  soul." 

But  he,  infatuated,  none  the  less 

1  rults;  and  now  the  Dardan  chieftain's  wrath 

her  and  fiercer  swells;  until  the  Fates 
Collect  the  last  threads  of  young  Lausus1  lite. 

For  deep  into  his  breast  ASneas'  blade 

I     plunged,  through  buckler  and  through  armor  light, 

And  tunic  woven  by  a  mother's  hands 
With  threads  of  delicate  gold.     His  breast  is  bathed 
In  blood.      The  sad  soul  left  its  mortal  frame, 
And  through  the  air  tied  to  the  realm  of    Shades. 
Hut  when  Anchises'  son  beheld  his  face 

1  dying  looks,  so  wondrous  pale,  he  groaned 
With  pitving  heart,  and  stretched   his  right  hand  forth, 
T     iched  by  the  picture  of    his  filial  love. 
"What  worthy  recompense,  lamented  youth," 
lie  said,  "what  honors  cau  .T'.neas  now 

on  virtues  such  as  thine  3  Thy  arms, 
In  which  thou  didst  rejoice,  retain  them  still. 
And  to  the  tomb  and  ashes  oi   thy  sin   . 


438  The  ALneid. 

If  aught  of  consolation  that  may  be, 

I  give  thee  back.     This  solace  too  thou  hast, 

In  thy  unhappy  death,  that  thou  hast  fallen 

By  great  ./Eneas'  hand."     With  that  he  chides  1085 

His  hesitating  followers,  and  himself 

Lifts  up  the  youth,  his  smooth  locks  smeared  with  blood. 

Meanwhile  the  father  on  the  Tiber's  shore 

With  water  stanched  his  wounds;  and  eased  his  limbs, 

Reclining  in  the  shade  against  a  tree.  109* 

His  brazen  helmet  hung  upon  a  bough, 

And  on  the  grass  his  heavy  armor  lay. 

His  chosen  youths  around  him  stand,  while  he, 

Panting,  and  faint,  relieves  his  burdened  neck, 

His  flowing  beard  spread  out  upon  his  breast.  >°95 

Ofttimes  of  Lausus  he  inquires,  and  oft 

Sends  messengers  to  call  him  from  the  field, 

Bearing  commands  from  his  afflicted  sire. 

But  Lausus'  weeping  friends  were  bearing  him 

Away  upon  his  shield,  a  lifeless  corpse;  >'°o 

Great  was  his  soul,  and  great  the  wound  that  slew  him. 

His  sire,  foreboding  sorrow,  knew  their  groans 

Far  off.     Then  on  his  hoary  head  he  heaped 

The  unsightly  dust,  and  stretched  his  hands  to  heaven  ; 


Book     A.  .|  \k) 

And  clinging  to  the  corpse,  u  Mv  ion  I  "  Ik-  cried,        u 
"  Could  such  delight  in  life  be  mine,  that  I 

Could  surfer  him  whom  I  begot  to  itand 

Ami  take  my  place  before  the  focm.in'.s  Itcel  f 
And,  by  these  wound*  of  thine,  am   I,  thv  sire 
Preserved,  thus  living  by  thy  death?     Alas! 


in  j 


Bitter  at  length  is  exile  now  to  me, 

Wretched!      Av,  now  the  wound  is  deeply  driven  I 

'  T  was  I,  my  son,  who  stained  thy  name  with  crime, 

Expelled  from  sceptre  and  paternal  throne 

For  mv  detested  deeds.     As  I  deserved  mj 

Mv  country's  vengeance  and  my  subjects'  hate, 

I  should  have  forfeited  my  guilty  life 

By  every  kind  of  death  ;   and  still  I  live  :  — 

Nor  men,  nor  life  I  leave,  —  yet  leave  I  will." 

W  ith  that,  the  warrior  on  his  crippled  thigh  iwo 

Litted  himself,   and  though  his  grievous  wound 
Retards  him,  not  depressed,  he  bids  his  steed 
Be  brought,  his  solace  and  his  pride,  on  which 
Victorious  he  had  come  from  every  war. 
Then  to  the  sorrowing  beast  he  thus  begins:  —  ":5 

"Long,  Rha-bus,  have  we  lived,  it    aught  he  long 
With  mortals.      Either  thou  shah  bear  away 
\  ictoriously,  to-day,  /Eneas'  head 


44-0  The  JEneid. 

And  bloody  spoils,  and  so  avenge  with  me 

The  death  of  Lausus ;  or,  if  we  should  fail,  1130 

We  both  will  fall  together.     For,  I  ween, 

Never,  my  own  brave  steed,  wilt  thou  e'er  deign 

To  obey  a  stranger,  or  a  Trojan  lord." 

He,  mounting  then  his  steed,  adjusts  his  limbs 

Upon  the  accustomed  seat,  and  fills  his  hands  "35 

With  javelins ;  and  his  brazen  helmet  gleams 

Upon  his  head,  rough  with  its  hairy  crest ; 

Then  gallops  to  the  middle  of  the  field. 

Deep  shame,  and  mingled  grief,  and  frantic  rage, 

And  love  by  maddening  furies  driven,  and  sense  114° 

Of  conscious  valor,  boil  within  his  breast. 

Then  to  ./Eneas  thrice  he  called  aloud. 

./Eneas  knew  him,  and  exulting,  prayed:  — 

"  So  may  great  Jove,  and  so  Apollo  prompt 

Thy  hand!     Begin  the  fight!  "     No  more  he  said,        1145 

But  bore  against  him  with  his  threatening  spear. 

But  he  :   "  Why  dost  thou  seek,  thou  barbarous  man, 
To  terrify  me,  now  my  son  is  slain  ? 
This  was  the  only  way  thou  couldst  prevail 
Against  me.     But  I  have  no  fear  of  death,  ns° 

Nor  heed  I  any  of  your  gods.     Forbear! 
I  come  prepared  to  die,  but  first  I  bring 


'/•      V.  .j  }  I 

These  gifts  tor  thcc!"     He  said,  ind  hurled  i  shaft, 
Ami  then  another,  and  mother  still ; 
While  in  a  circuit  wide  he  wheeled  about. 

The  hero's  golden  ihield  sustains  tin-  slunk. 

Thrice  round  /Eneas,  hieing  him,  he  ri 

In  eireles  to  the  left,  hifl  hand,  the  while. 

Still  hurling  lances.     Thrice  upon  his  shield 
The  Trojan  hero  bears  about  With  him 
A  frightful  grove  of  javelins,  sticking  I 

Till  tired  of  dragging  on  such  long  delay, 
And  plucking  out  so  many  barbed  spears, 
Hard  [Messed,  contending  in  unequal  tight, 

King  many  stratagems,  at  length,  n6$ 

Forward  he  springs,  and  darts  his  weapon  straight 
Between  the  temples  o(  the  warlike  steed. 
Rearing,  the  horse  heats  with  his  hoot-  the  air; 
Then  falls  upon  his  rider  closely  pressed 
Beneath  his  shoulder's  weight.      Then  ring  the  shouts  1170 
Of    Trojans  and  of  Latians  to  the  ski, 
Hut  swiftly  /Eneas  leapt,  and  with  his  sword 
Snatched  from  the  sheath,  stood  over  him,  and  spoke:  — 
"  Where  is  the  fierce  Me/entius  now,  and  all 
The  wild   impetuous  force  that  filled  his  soul  I  ' 

To  whom  tlu-   I        in,  when  with  eyes  upraised 

56 


442  The   Alneid. 

His  breath  returned,  and  his  bewildered  mind:  — 

"Thou  bitter  enemy,  why  dost  thou  taunt 

And  threaten  me  with  death  ?     It  is  no  crime 

For  thee  to  slay  me.     Not  for  this  came  I  n8o 

To  battle;  nor  did  he,  my  Lausus,  make 

Such  truce  with  thee  for  me.     One  boon  alone 

I  ask,  if  to  the  vanquished  any  grace 

Be  given ;  —  that  in  the  earth  my  corpse  may  lie. 

I  know  my  subjects'  enmity  and  hate  u^s 

Surround  me.     Save  my  body  from  their  rage, 

And  bury  me  beside  my  son."     He  said  ; 

And  knowing  well  his  doom,  gave  to  the  sword 

His  throat.     Then  with  his  life  his  streaming  blood 

Rushed  forth,  and  over  all  his  armor  poured.  "9° 


BOOK    XI. 

A    f  EANWHILE  the  Morning  from  the  Ocean  r 

/Eneas,  though  his  wishes  strongly  urge 
To  give  a  time  of  burial  for  his  friends; 
And  by  the  memory  of  their  deaths  his  soul 
Is  overcast;  yet,  with  the  early  dawn,  5 

Pays  to  the  gods  the  vows  a  victor  owes. 
An  oak-tree  huge,  its  boughs  on  every  side 
Lopped  off,  he  plants  upon  a  rising  ground  ; 
And  on  it  hangs  the  shining  arms,  the  spoils 
Ot   King  Mezentius ;  —  thine,  O  warrior-god,  10 

The  trophy.     There,  the  crest  that  dripped  with  blood 
He  places,  and  the  hero's  shattered  spears, 
And  breastplate  twelve  times  dented  and  pierced  through. 
The  brazen  shield  upon  the  left  he  binds, 
And  from  the  neck  the  ivory-hilted  sword  «> 

Suspends.      Then,  while  the  chiefs  around  him  crowd, 
He  thus  addresses  his  exulting  friends 
W  ith  words  of  cheer  :    M  Warriors,  our  greatest  work 


444  7^  sEneid. 

Is  done ;  all  lingering  fear  be  banished  now. 

The  spoils,  the  first-fruits  of  our  victory,  20 

Worn  by  that  haughty  tyrant,  —  they  are  here! 

Here,  by  my  hands  Mezentius  is  laid  low. 

Now  to  the  king  and  to  the  Latian  walls 

Our  way  is  free.     Prepare  your  arms ;   with  hope 

And  courage  strong,  anticipate  the  war,  15 

Lest  obstacles  impede  you  unawares, 

Or  counsel  born  of  fear,  with  motions  slow 

Delay  you,  when  the  deities  give  leave 

To  pull  your  standards  up,  and  lead  your  youths 

From  camp.     Meanwhile  let  us  commit  to  earth  3° 

The  unburied  corpses  of  our  friends ;  for  such 

Is  the  sole  honor  known  in  Acheron. 

Go  then,  and  with  your  last  sad  offerings  grace 

Those  souls  of  noble  worth  who  with  their  blood 

Have  won  for  us  this  country.     First  of  all,  35 

To  Evander's  mourning  city  let  us  send 

Brave  Pallas,  whom  a  day  of  darkness  snatched 

Away  from  us^-and  plunged  in  bitter  death.'* 

Weeping  he  spoke,  and  to  the  threshold  went, 

Where,  by  the  corpse  of  Pallas  on  his  bier  40 

Stretched  out,  the  old  Accetes  watching  sat. 


Book  XI.  .|  15 

He  'twas  who  had  been  armor-hearer  once 
To  Evandcr ;  now,  with  Badder  auspices, 
Attendant  on  his  own  dear  foster-son, 

1      thered  Around  the  trains  of  servant 

And  Trojan  crowds;  while  Trojan  women  came 
Mourning,  as  they  were  wont,  with  tresses  la 

Soon  as  /Eneas  entered  the  high  gates, 

Heating  their  breasts  they  raise  a  long  loud  groan, 

And  the  halls  ring  with  grief.      When  he  himself  50 

Beheld  the  pillowed  head  and  snow-white  face 

Of  Pallas,  and  upon  his  fair  smooth  breast 

The  open  wound  the  Ausonian  spear  had  dealt, 

With  tears  he  could  not  check  he  thus  began  :  — 

"  Ah  dear  lamented  hoy,  did  Fortune  then,  s$ 

Just  when  she  came  with  smiles,  begrudge  me  thee, 

Lest  thou  shouldst  see  the  kingdom  I  should  win, 

And  to  thy.home  return  with  victory  crowned? 

Not  this  the  parting  promise  that  I  gave 

Thy  sire,  for  thee,  w  hen  with  his  last  embrace  &> 

He  sent  me  forth  against  a  mighty  realm, 

And,  fearful,  gave  me  warning  I  should  meet 

Fierce  \'oc^}  ami  battles  with  a  hardy  race. 

And  he,  deluded  by  an  empty  hope, 


446  The  Azneid. 

Perhaps  even  now  is  offering  up  his  vows,  6s 

Heaping  the  altars  with  his  gifts,  while  we, 

With  grief  and  unavailing  funeral  pomp, 

Attend  the  lifeless  youth,  now  owing  naught 

To  any  powers  above.     Unhappy  sire, 

Thou  wilt  behold  the  cruel  obsequies  7© 

Of  thy  own  son  !     Is  this  our  homeward  march  ? 

Our  looked-for  triumph,  our  high  confidence  ? 

But  not,  Evander,  with  disgraceful  wounds 

Shalt  thou  behold  thy  warrior  beaten  back  ; 

Nor  thou,  O  father,  wish  a  fearful  death  75 

For  one  so  saved.     Alas,  how  great  a  guard 

Hast  thou,  Ausonia,  thou,  lulus,  lost !  " 

Thus  having  wept,  he  bids  them  lift  away 

The  mournful  corpse,  and  sends  a  thousand  men, 

From  the  whole  army  chosen,  to  attend  80 

These  last  funereal  rites,  and  bear  a  part 

In  the  parental  tears ;  a  solace  small 

For  that  huge  grief,  yet  due  the  unhappy  sire. 

Others,  no  less  alert,  with  twigs  of  oak 

And  arbute  weave  a  soft  and  pliant  bier,  85 

And  shade  the  lifted  bed  with  leafy  boughs. 

High  on  this  rustic  couch  they  raise  the  youth  ;  — 


Book   XL  447 

lies  .1  flower  by  i  maiden's  I  phicke  1, 

Some  violet  .sweet,  or  languid  hyacinth, 

Prom  which  not  vet  the  form  ind  bloom  have  .  *• 

Though  mother  earth  \u^  strength  nor  nurture  yield 

Two  robes  .i  nc.b  tlien  brought  forth,  .ill  BtifT 

With  gold  tnd  crimson  broidery,  which  once 
Sidonian  Dido,  pleased  to  ply  her  task, 

With  her  own  hands  had  wrought  for  him,  ami  Striped   95 

The  tissue  through  with  Blender  threads  of  gold. 
With  one  of  these,  last  honor  to  his  friend, 

He  clothes  the  vouth,  and  with  the  other  veils 

Hi-  hair,  which  soon  the  funeral  flames  must  hum. 

And  many  a  prize  from  the  Laurentian  war 

He  heaps,  besides,  commanding  them  to  lead 

In  long  array  the  booty  they  had  won. 

To  these  he  adds  the  weapons  and  the  steeds 

01  which  lie  had  despoiled  the  enemy  ; 

And  those  whose  hands  he  had  bound  behind,  to  send 

Afl  victims  to  the  hero's  shade,  condemned 

To  sprinkle  with  their  blood  the  altar  flames. 

Also  the  leaders  he  commands  to  bear 

The  trunks  of  tree^  with  hostile  armor  hui 

And  to  affix  their  enemies'  names  thereon.  ■•« 

tet,  wretched  and  worn  out  with  I 


448  The   Alneid. 

Is  led,  who  beats  his  breast  and  tears  his  cheeks, 

And  throws  his  body  prostrate  on  the  earth. 

The  chariots  of  the  hero  then  are  led, 

Dashed  with  Rutulian  blood.     His  war-horse  next,       "s 

iEthon,  his  trappings  laid  aside,  moves  on, 

The  big  tears  coursing  down  his  sorrowing  face. 

And  others  bear  the  helmet  and  the  spear  ; 

For  all  the  rest  victorious  Turnus  held. 

Then  the  sad  phalanx  comes,  the  Trojans  all,  no 

And  Tuscans,  and  Arcadians,  following  on 

With  arms  reversed.     When  all  the  train  had  passed 

In  long  array,  ./Eneas  paused,  and  thus 

With  a  deep  groan  resumed  :   "  War's  direful  fates 

Now  call  us  hence  to  other  tears  than  these.  1*5 

Great  Pallas,  here  I  greet  thee  but  to  leave! 

Forever  hail !   forever  fare  thee  well !  " 

No  more  he  said,  but  to  the  camp  returned.^ 

And  now  from  King  Latinus'  city  came 

Ambassadors,  who  bore  the  olive-branch,  13° 

And  sued  for  grace;  that  he  would  render  back 

The  bodies  of  their  dead  in  battle  slain, 

Strown  o'er  the  fields,  with  leave  to  bury  them  ; 

That,  with  the  vanquished  and  the  dead,  all  strife 


Book    XL  449 

Must  cease;  that  those  once  called  his  \n   l 
Ami  kin  by  promised  union,  he  would  spare. 
Whom,  as  their  prayer  was  not  i  thing  to  spurn, 

/V.ikm.s  with  a  courteous  grace  receive  , 

Ami  adds  these  woro!>:  "What  undeserved  chant   , 

()  Latians,  hath  involved  you  in  such  war,  mo 

That  thus  you  have  avoided  us,  your  friends 3 

1-  it  tor  peace  to  those  bereft  oi    lite, 
And  taken  by  the  chance  oi    war,  ye  sue? 
Nay,  I  would  grant  it  too  to  those  who  live. 

r,  unless  destiny  had  here  decreed  us 

Mv  place  and  settlement,  would  I  have  come. 
Nor  with  this  nation  do  I  wage  a  war. 
Your  king  renounced  all  hospitality 
With  us  and  trusted  Turnus'  arms.      More   just 
It  would  have  been  tor  Turnus  his  own  liie  »s° 

To  risk.      If  it  be  his  design  to  end 
With  his  own  hand  this  war,  and  to  expel 
The  Trojans,  then  with  me  he  should  have  fought. 
And  he  would  have  survived,  whom  power  divine 
Or  his  own  strong  right  hand  had  given  to  live.  »5! 

Now  go,  and  for  your  dead  build  funeral  fires." 

So  spoke  /Eneas.     They  astonished  stood, 

57 


45  0  The  Aineid. 

And  silent,  and  upon  each  other  turned 
Their  faces  and  their  eyes,  with  looks  intent. 

Then  aged  Drances,  who  in  enmity  160 

And  accusations  always  hostile  stood 

To  youthful  Turnus,  thus  begins  to  speak  :  — 

"O  Trojan  hero,  mighty  in  thy  fame, 

And  mightier  still  in  arms,  with  what  high  praise 

Shall  I  extol  thy  name?  —  which  most  admire,  165 

Thy  justice,  or  thy  great  emprise  in  war? 

We  truly  shall  with  grateful  hearts  bear  back 

This  answer  to  our  city ;  and  if  a  way 

By  any  chance  should  open,  will  unite 

Thee  to  our  king.     Let  Turnus  for  himself  170 

Seek  his  alliances.     Nay,  we  ourselves, 

Well  pleased,  will  build  your  fated  city's  walls, 

And  on  our  shoulders  bear  the  stones  of  Troy." 

He  said,  and  all  as  one  murmured  assent. 

A  twelve  days'  truce  is  settled  ;  and  meanwhile  175 

The  Trojans  and  the  Latins,  freely  mixed, 

Roam  through  the  forests  on  the  hills,  in  peace. 

Beneath  the  axe  the  rowan-tree  resounds; 

The  pines  that  skyward  shoot  are  overturned ; 

Nor  do  they  cease  to  cleave  the  trunks  of  oak  «8< 


Book     XL  .|5I 

And  fragrant  cedar,  and  to  IF 

The  mountain-ash  trees  in  their  groaning  wains. 

Now  flying  rumor,  harbinger  of  grief 

;reat,  cornea  to  Evander'i  ears,  ind  fills 
His  court  and  city ;    rumor  which  but  now  ifj 

Reported  Pallas  in  the  Latian  fields 

Victorious.     To  the  gates  the  Arcadians  rush, 

And,  as  the  ancient  custom  wras,  snatch  up 
Their  funeral  torches.     In  a  long  array 

The  road  is  bright  with  flames,  that  far  and  gride  «9° 

Make  visible  the  fields.      The  Phrygian  bands, 

Advancing,  join  the  mourning  multitude. 

The  matrons,  when  they  see  them  near  the  walls, 

Rouse  the  sad  city  with  their  cries  of  grief. 

But  nothing  can  restrain  Evander  then  «9S 

From  rushing  through  the  middle  o\   the  throng. 

The  bier  set  down,  the  father  prostrate  tails 

n  the  body  of  his  son,  frith  tears  and  groans 
Close  clinging  to  the  corpse,  until  at  length 
The  words,  long  stifled  by  his  grief,  escape  :  —  *» 

u  Was  this  the  promise,  ()  my  son,  thou  gar1 
That  in  no  rash  encounter  vrouldst  thou  try 
The  risks  of  raging  war?      I  knew  lull  well 


452  The  Alneid. 

How  far  the  fresh  delight  and  fame  of  arms, 

And  the  first  battle's  glory,  all  too  sweet,  *oS 

Might  carry  thee  away.     Ah,  first-fruits  dire 

Of  youth  !     Ah,  hard  novitiate  in  a  war 

So  near  at  hand  !  and  vows  and  prayers  unheard 

By  any  of  the  deities!     And  thou, 

Most  sacred  consort,  happy  in  thy  death,  no 

Nor  for  this  grief  reserved !  while  I  am  left 

Still  lingering,  and  outlive  my  destined  days, 

To  stay  behind  my  son,  a  childless  sire  ! 

'T  was  I  who  should  have  followed  to  the  field 

The  allied  arms  of  Troy,  and  fallen  before  ^s 

The  lances  of  the  Rutuli.     This  life 

I  should  have  given,  and  me,  not  Pallas,  now, 

This  funeral  pomp  had  homeward  brought!     Not  you, 

Ye  Trojans,  and  your  friendly  league,  wherein 

You  pledged  your  hands,  do  I  accuse.     This  blow  "o 

Of  fortune  was  but  due  to  my  old  age. 

And  if  untimely  death  has  called  my  son, 

Some  solace  't  is  to  know  that  leading  on 

The  Trojans  into  Latium,  he  has  fallen, 

Thousands  of  Volscians  having  first  been  slain.  ^s 

Nor  other  obsequies  would  I  prepare 

For  thee,  O  Pallas,  than  ./Eneas  gives, 


Book   xi  453 

With  the  great  Phrygians  and  the  Tuscan  chu 

And  all  their  host.     Proud  trophies  won  by  tl 

They  bring,  from  those-  whom  thy  right  hand  hath  slain. 

Thou  also  wouldst  have  been  Among  them  here, 

Turn  us,  a  mighty  trunk  with  armor  deck* 

Had  Pallas  been  of  equal  yean  ami  strength 

With  thine.     But  why  need  I,  unhappy,  stay 

The  Trojans  from  the  war3      (Jo,  hear  in  mind 

These  words,  and  take  this  message  to  your  king:  — 

That  if  I  linger  out  a  hated  life, 

Now  that  my  Pallas  is  no  more,  the  cause 

Is  thv  avenging  hand,  from  which  the  life 

Of  Turnus  to  a  father  and  a  son  14a 

Thou  see'st  is  due.      This  empty  post  awaits 

Thee  only,  and  the  fortune  of  thy  arms. 

I  seek  not  further  joy,  nor  should  I  seek, 

In  life;   but  fain  into  the  shades  below 

Would  hear  with  me  these  tidings  to  my  son."  145 

Meanwhile  the  Morn  to  wretched  mortals  brought 
The  light  benign,  and  the  day's  work  and  toil 
Renewed.      /Eneas  now,  now  Tarchon  built 
Along  the  winding  shore  the  funeral  piles. 
I    tch  hither  brought  the  bodies  of  his  triends, 


454  The  Aineid. 

According  to  the  custom  of  his  sires. 

The  mournful  fires  are  lit  beneath ;  the  sky 

Is  hidden  in  the  darkness  and  the  smoke. 

Thrice  round  the  blazing  piles  they  go,  all  clad 

In  glittering  armor  ;   thrice  upon  their  steeds  25s 

Encompass  the  sad  flames  with  doleful  shrieks. 

With  tears  the  earth  is  wet,  with  tears  their  arms. 

The  blare  of  trumpets  and  the  cries  of  men 

Ascend  to  heaven.     Some  throw  into  the  fire 

The  spoils  they  snatched  away  from  Latians  slain,  —     260 

Helmets  and  splendid  swords,  bridles  and  bits, 

And  glowing  wheels  ;  some  throw  their  well-known  gifts, 

Their  own  shields,  and  their  unsuccessful  spears. 

To  Death  they  offer  up  a  sacrifice 

Of  bulls  and  swine;  and  sheep  from  all  the  fields  265 

Borne  off  they  slay,  and  cast  into  the  flames. 

Then  all  along  the  shore  their  burning  friends 

They  view,  and  watch  the  half-charred  funeral  piles ; 

Nor  can  they  tear  themselves  away,  till  night 

Inverts  the  sky,  studded  with  blazing  stars.  270 

Nor  with  less  sorrow  do  the  Latians  too, 
In  other  quarters,  build  unnumbered  pyres. 
And  many  corpses  of  their  warriors  fallen 


Book    xi.  455 

They  bury  in  the  earth  ;   and  sonic  thev  betf 
l     neighboring  fields,  tome  to  the  city  send.  »*$ 

The  rest,  .1  vast  prOtniSCUOUl  heap  of  .slain 
Uncounted,  and  unmarked  hv  .separate  lit,    , 
Thev  burn.      Then  all  around,  the  extended  fid 

Blaze  with  their  frequent  tires,  in  rival  /eal. 

The  third  ddv  from  the  skic>  had  driven  the  shades,        aSo 

When  sadly  on  the  funeral  hearths  thev  heaped 

The  piles  of   ashes  and  the  mingled  bones, 

And  a  warm  mound  of  earth  above  them  threw. 

But  from  Latinus'  city  and  proud  courts 
Comes  the  chief  clamor  and  long  wail  of  woe.  »«s 

Mothers,  and  mourning  brides,  and  tender  hearts 
Of  sorrowing  sisters,  and  young  children  robbed 
Of  parents,  execrate  the  direful  war, 
And  Turnus'  nuptials;   and  demand  that  he, 
Turnus  himself,   shall  with  his  sword  decide  »*» 

The  contest,  since  for  himself  alone  he  claims 
The  kingdom  and  the  crown  of  Italy. 
All  this  the  bitter  Drances  aggravates, 
And  vows  that  Turnus  is  the  only  one 
Summoned  and  challenged  t<>  the  combat  now; 
While  differing  voices  all  declare  tor  him 
Protected  by  the  queen's  o'erehadowing  name, 
And  by  his  fame  upheld,  and  trophies  WOtU 


456  The  Alneid. 

Amid  the  tumult  and  commotion,  come, 
To  add  new  griefs,  the  sad  ambassadors  300 

From  Diomed's  great  city,  who  report 
These  answers  :   "That  they  had  accomplished  naught 
By  all  their  toil  bestowed  ;  that  neither  gifts, 
Nor  gold,  nor  supplications  could  avail. 
That  other  armed  alliance  must  be  asked  i°s 

By  Latium  ;  or  that  from  the  Trojan  prince 
Must  peace  be  sought."     At  this  the  king  himself 
Sinks  down,  o'erpowered  by  his  weight  of  grief. 
The  anger  of  the  gods,  the  new-raised  mounds 
Before  him,  show  that  by  a  power  divine  31° 

iEneas  is  borne  on  with  fateful  aim. 
Therefore  by  his  imperial  decree 
He  summons  his  great  council,  and  his  peers, 
Within  the  lofty  courts.     They  flocking  come, 
And  stream  along  the  crowded  avenues,  3>s 

And  fill  the  royal  palace.     In  the  midst, 
Oldest  in  years  and  first  in  regal  power, 
With  joyless  brow  Latinus  takes  his  seat. 
Here  he  commands  the  ambassadors,  who  late 
From  the  ./Etolian  city  had  returned,  3*0 

Their  message  to  deliver,  and  relate 
In  order  due  each  answer  they  had  brought. 


Book     XL  a$J 

Then  all  in  silence  sat  ;   when  Venulus, 
Commanded,  speaks:  "We  have  seen,  ()  citizens, 
The  Arrive  camp,  ami  Diomed  himself; 
The  dangers  of  our  weary  road  o'erpassed, 

We  touched  that  hand  by  which  Trov's  kingdom  fell. 

We  found  the  chief,  victorious,  building  there, 

On  the  Apulian  plains,  Argyripa, 

His  city,  from  his  native  Argos  named.  j3<> 

Admitted,  and  permission  given  to  speak, 

We  first  present  our  gifts.;   then  tell  our  name 

And  country,  and  what  foes  made  war  on  us; 

And  why  to  Arpi  we  had  come.     Then  thus, 

Our  message  heard,  he  courteously  replied  :  —  33s 

'O  happv  people,  of  Saturnian  realms! 
Ancient  Ausonians!     Say  what  fortune  now 
Disturbs  your  peace,  provoking  wars  untried. 
All  those  of  us,  who  with  the  sword  despoiled 
The  Ilian  fields  (I  make  no  note  of  stn  3-^ 

Endured  in  battle  'neath  the  walls  of  Trov, 
Nor  of  the  heroes  in  their  Simois  drowned    ; 
We  all  have  borne  unutterable  woes 
In  every  place,  and  of  our  crimes  have  paid 
The  penalties,  —  a  band  whom  Priam  even  3*5 

Would  pity.      Let  Minerva's  baleful  star 
58 


458  The  Aineid. 

Bear  witness,  and  the  rough  Eubcean  rocks, 

And  dire  Caphereus.     Ever  since  that  war 

Have  we  on  various  coasts  been  tossed  and  driven  ; 

Here  Menelaus,  Atreus'  son,  exiled  is° 

As  far  away  as  Proteus'  columns ;  there, 

Ulysses  the  iEtnean  Cyclops  sees. 

Why  name  the  realms  of  Neoptolemus? 

The  home-gods  of  Idomeneus  o'erthrown  ? 

The  Locri  dwelling  on  the  Lybian  shores  ?  355 

Mycenae's  chief  himself  who  led  the  Greeks, 

Stabbed  by  the  hand  of  his  unnatural  spouse, 

Upon  his  palace  threshold,  —  Asia's  lord 

By  an  adulterous  enemy  waylaid  ? 

Or  need  I  tell  how,  envied  by  the  gods,  360 

I  could  not  to  my  native  land  return, 

And  my  beloved  wife  again  behold, 

And  lovely  Calydon  ?     Even  now  portents 

Of  aspect  terrible  pursue  my  steps; 

My  lost  companions,  into  birds  transformed,  36s 

Have  flown  away  into  the  fields  of  air, 

Or  wander  by  the  streams  (ah,  for  my  friends 

How  hard  a  penalty  !)   and  fill  the  rocks 

With  wailing  voices.     And  indeed  such  fate 

I  might  have  well  expected,  since  that  time  370 


Book   xl  459 

When  madly  with  my  sword  I  dared  to  assail 

Celestial  beings,  wounding  Venus'  hand. 

Nay,  verily,  urge  me  not  to  wars  like  this. 

Not  with  the  Trojans  have  I  any  lend, 

Now  Troy  is  overthrown;   nor  do  I  think 

With  joy  upon  their  former  sufferings. 

The  gifts  which  from  your  land  you  bring  to  n. 

Transfer  to  /Eneas.      'Gainst  his  bitter  darts 

We  have  stood,  and  hand  to  hand  encountered  him. 

Trust  one  who  has  known  how  in  his  shield  he  totl 

With  what  a  mighty  whirl  he  throws  his  lance.  i 

If  two  such  men  besides  the  Ida?an  land 

Had  borne,  the  Dardan  would  have  first  advanced 

Upon  the  Inachian  towns,  and  Greece  have  mourned 

Her  fates  reversed.      Whatever  obstacle  |tj 

Lav  at  Troy's  stubborn  walls,  the  Greeks'  success 

By  Hector's  and  Eneas'  hand  was  balked, 

And  to  the  tenth  year  of  the  siege  delayed. 

Both  alike  famed  for  courage  and  for  arms, 

This  man  is  first  in  piety.      In  league  390 

Join  hands  with  him,  by  whatsoever  means; 

But  of  opposing  him  in  arms,  beware!  ' 

Such  are  the  answers,  gracious  sire,  we  bring, 
And  such  his  counsel  in  this  serious  war." 


460  The  Aineid. 

Scarce  had  the  legates  spoken,  when  there  ran  39s 

Through  the  Ausonian  crowd  a  noise  confused 
Of  agitated  voices ;  as  when  rocks 
Obstruct  a  rapid  stream,  the  flood  confined 
Murmurs  with  fretting  waves  against  the  banks. 
Soon  as  their  troubled  minds  and  lips  are  stilled,  400 

From  his  high  throne  the  king,  first  praying,  speaks:  — 

"  It  had  been  better,  and  I  well  could  wish, 
O  Latins,  that  ere  now  we  had  resolved 
Concerning  these  our  chief  affairs  of  state ; 
And  not  convene  a  council  when  the  foe  4°s 

Sits  at  our  walls.     An  inauspicious  war, 
O  citizens,  we  wage,  against  a  race 
Of  gods,  and  men  unconquered,  unfatigued 
By  battles,  and  who  never  drop  the  sword, 
Though  routed  !     Lay  aside  what  hope  ye  had  410 

In  the  ./Etolian  arms.     Each  one  must  be 
His  own  hope;  but  how  small  this  is,  ye  know. 
For  all  the  rest  of  our  affairs,  ye  see 
And  feel  in  what  a  ruin  all  is  strewn. 
No  one  do  I  accuse.     What  the  best  strength  4«s 

Of  valor  could  accomplish  has  been  done. 
With  our  whole  kingdom's  prowess  we  have  fought. 
Now  then  I  will  declare  and  briefly  show 


Book     XL  461 

What  thoughts  arc  in  my  doubting  mind.     Give  heed 

Hard  by  the  Tuscan  river  is  a  tract  4*0 

Of  ancient  land  I  own;  that  to  the  west 
Extends  beyond  the  old  Sicanian  hounds. 
There  the  A  u  run  cans  and  Rutuliana  sow, 

And  with  their  ploughshares  till  the  stubborn  hills, 
And  pasture  on  their  rugged  slopes.      Let  this  4»s 

And  the  high  mountain's  piny  tract  be  given 
In  friendship  to  the  Trojans.      Equal  terms 
Of  amity  and  peace  let  us  declare, 
Inviting  them  as  allies  to  our  realm. 

There  let  them  settle,  and  their  cities  build,  433 

If  such  their  wish.      But  if  of  other  lands 
They  wish  possession,  and  can  leave  our  soil, 
Then  twice  ten  vessels  of  Italian  oak, 
Or  more,  if  they  can  fill  them,  let  us  build. 
The  wood  is  lying  all  along  the  stream.  435 

The  number  and  the  fashion  o^f  their  ships 
Let  them  determine.      We  to  them  will  give- 
Money,  and  men,  and  fitting  naval  Stores, 
And  let  a  hundred  Latian  men  of  birth 

as  ambassadors,  and  in  their  hands 
Carrying  the  boughs  of  peace,  and  bearing  gifts 
Or  gold  and  ivorv,  and  a  chair  of   state, 


462  The   Aineid. 

And  royal  robe,  the  emblems  of  our  sway. 
Advise  for  all,  and  help  our  cause  distressed.",  - 

Then  that  same  Drances,  filled  with  bitter  stings        445 
And  envy  all  askant,  at  Turnus'  fame, — 
Large  in  his  means,  but  larger  yet  in  tongue; 
Frigid  in  war,  yet  deemed  no  trifling  weight 
In  counsel,  and  in  strife  of  faction  strong ; 
Dowered  on  his  mother's  side  with  noble  blood,  450 

But  of  uncertain  birth  upon  his  sire's, — 
He  rises,  and  on  Turnus  heaps  reproach, 
And  with  his  words  thus  aggravates  his  wrath:  — 

"  Thou  seekest  counsel,  gracious  sovereign, 
In  matters  which  to  none  of  us  are  dark,  455 

Nor  needing  our  voices.     All  must  own 
They  know  what  best  concerns  the  public  good, 
But  hesitate  to  speak.     Let  him  allow 
That  liberty  of  speech,  and  moderate 
His  windy  boast,  whose  ill-starred  influence  460 

And  conduct  sinister  (nay,  let  me  speak, 
Though  he  should  threaten  me  with  arms  and  death) 
Have  caused  so  many  of  our  chiefs  to  fall, 
That  the  whole  city  sits  in  grief;   while  he, 
Tempting  the  Trojan  camp,  trusting  to  flight,  465 

Defies  the  heavens  with  arms.     One  gift  beside, 


Book   XL  463 

One  more,  O  best  of  kings,  add  thou  to  tin 
So  largely  to  the  Trojans  sent.      Nor  thee 
Let  any  violent  hand  intimidate; 

Hut  give  thy  daughter,  as  a  father  may,  470 

To  an  illustrious  son-in-law,  and  seal 

A  union  not  unworthy,  and  confirm 

This  peace  by  making  a  perpetual  league. 

But  if  such  terror  of  this  chief  pervades 

Our  minds  and  hearts,  then  him  let  us  beseech,  475 

Him  supplicate  for  grace,  that  to  his  king 

And  country  he  may  yield  this  right  or   his. 

Why,  O  thou  head  and  cause  of  all  these  woes 

To  Latium,  why  so  often  dost  thou  thrust 

Into  open  danger  these  our  citizens?  4^ 

For  us  there  is  no  safety  in  this  war. 

We  all,  O  Turnus,  sue  to  thee  for  peace, 

And  for  that  sole  inviolable  pledge 

Which  peace  demands.      Behold,  I  come,  the  first;  — 

I,  whom  thou  deem'st  thy  foe,  —  nor  shall  I  stop 

To  say  it  is  not  so  ;   suppliant  I  beg 

That  thou  wilt  spare  thy  own.     Lay  by  thy  wrath, 

And,  routed,  quit  the  field.      We  deaths  enough 

I  Live  seen,  and  desolation,  and  defeat 

Upon  our  plains.      But  if  the  love  of  fame 


464  The  Aineid. 

So  stirs  thy  soul,  and  such  heroic  strength, 

And  if  a  royal  palace  for  a  dower 

Be  so  much  in  thy  heart,  then  dare  the  foe 

With  a  brave  breast.     It  must  be  so,  forsooth, 

That  Turnus  with  a  royal  spouse  may  wed.  495 

We,  abject  souls,  unburied  and  unwept, 

Must  strew  the  fields.     And  now  if  strength  be  thine, 

If  of  thy  country's  Mars  one  spark  be  left, 

Look  in  thy  foe's  face,  who  doth  challenge  thee !  " 

Up  flamed  the  rage  of  Turnus  at  these  taunts,  s°° 

And,  with  a  groan,  broke  from  his  breast  these  words :  — 

"Abundant  flow  of  speech  thou  always  hast, 
Drances,  whenever  war  for  action  calls. 
Thou  art  our  foremost,  when  the  fathers  meet 
In  council.     But  't  is  not  the  season  now  5=5 

To  fill  the  court  with  words  that  fly  from  thee 
In  such  profusion,  thou  being  safe  at  home, 
Here,  where  our  ramparts  keep  the  foe  at  bay, 
And  while  the  trenches  are  not  filled  with  blood. 
So  with  thy  eloquence  still  thunder  on  s»° 

As  thou  art  wont.     Accuse  me  too  of  fear, 
Drances,  since  thy  right  hand  has  slain  such  heaps 
Of  Trojans,  and  with  trophies  everywhere 


Book   xl  465 

Thou  hast  decked  the  fields,     Thou  to  the  proof  canst 

bring 
That  lively  bravery  of  thine.      Not  far,  $'$ 

Forsooth,  have  we  to  seek,  our  enemies ; 

They  lie  around  our  walls  on  every  side. 
Come,  let  us  march  against  them  !      What,  so  Blow  : 
Thy  Mars,  is  't  in  thy  windy  tongue  alone, 
Those  feet  so  swift  to  fly,  he  shows  himself?  — 
I  routed!  who  shall  justly  say,  base  wretch, 
That  word  of  me,  of  one  who  soon  shall  see 
The  swelling  Tiber  heave  with  Trojan  blood, 
And  see  Evander's  house,  and  all  his  race- 
Stretched  on  the  ground,  and  the  Arcadians  stripped       s*s 
Of  all  their  arms  !      Not  thus  did  Bitias  test 
My  strength,  and  bulky  Pandarus,  and  those, 
The  thousands,  whom  I  sent  to  Tartarus, 
All  in  one  dav,  though  shut  within  their  walls. 
No  safety  in  war!      Go,  fool,  and  preach  such  things      53° 
To  the  Dardan  chief,  and  those  who  side  with  thee. 
Then  cease  not  to  disturb  all  hearts  with  fears. 
Extol  the  strength  of  a  twice-conquered  race, 
And  King  Latinus*  power  depress.      Yea,  even 
The  Myrmidonian  chiefs  fear  Phrygian  arms!  sis 

Yea,  Diomed  and  Achilles!      Backward  flies 
59 


466  The  <s£neid. 

The  Aufidus  from  the  Adriatic  Sea ! 

While  this  dissembler  feigns  himself  afraid 

Of  me,  and  of  my  menaces;   and  so 

Inflames  his  accusations  by  this  fear.  54° 

Be  not  disturbed  ;  for  such  a  life  as  thine 

I  scorn  to  take.     Safe  let  it  dwell  with  thee. 

"And  now  to  thee,  and  thy  great  counsels,  sire, 

Let  me  return.     If  in  our  arms  no  hope 

Of  further  fortune  thou  dost  entertain, —  54s 

If  we  are  so  deserted,  so  undone 

By  one  defeat,  and  no  regression  left, 

Then  let  us  stretch  weak  hands,  and  sue  for  peace. 

Yet  O,  if  in  our  souls  there  were  a  spark 

Of  our  accustomed  valor,  he,  methinks,  55° 

Were  happier  than  all  others  in  his  toils, 

And  great  of  soul,  who,  ere  he  saw  such  peace, 

Fell  once  for  all,  and  dying  bit  the  ground. 

But  if  we  have  resources,  if  still  fresh 

Our  youthful  warriors,  and  the  Italian  towns  555 

And  people  still  are  left  to  give  us  aid ; 

If  with  much  blood  the  Trojans  earn  their  fame; 

If  they  too  have  their  funeral  obsequies, 

Since  upon  all  alike  the  storm  has  raged ;  — 


Book     XL  .\  )J 

Why  then  inglorious  do  we   taint,  as  vet  s«o 

Scarce  entered  on  the  war?      Whv  tremble  we 
Before  the  trumpet  sounds?    The  lapse  of  days, 

The  ever-changehil  work  of  shifting  time, 

Have  brought  us  better  things.      Fortune,  who  comes 

To  many  with  an  alternating  play,  s6$ 

Hath  placed  us  on  a  firmer  basis  now. 

It*  from  the  T^tolian  prince  there  comes  no  aid, 

We  have  Messapus,  and  the  auspicious  seer 

Tolumnius,  and  the  chiefs  so  many  tribes 

Have  sent.     Nor  small  shall  be  the  fame  of  those,  570 

The  chosen  warriors  from  Laurentian  fields. 

Camilla  also,  of  the  Volscian  race 

Renowned,  is  ours,  leading  her  cavalry  on, 

Her  troops  that  shine  in  brazen  mail.     And  yet, 

If  me  alone  the  Trojans  now  demand  57s 

For  battle,  and  if  such  be  your  desire, 

And  I  so  much  obstruct  your  common  good, 

Not  hitherto  has  Victory  shunned  my  hand 

With  such  a  hate,  that  I  should  now  decline 

Any  adventurous  task,  for  hope  so  high.  s«° 

Undaunted  will  I  meet  this  chief,  although 

Like  great  Achilles  he  appear,  arrayed 

Like  him  in  armor  wrought  by  Vulcan's  hands. 


468 


The  Aineid. 


To  you,  and  to  the  king,  my  future  sire, 

I,  Turnus,  second  to  no  veteran  here 

In  valor,  have  devoted  this  my  life. 

Is  't  me  alone  i^Eneas  challenges  ? 

Be  it  so,  I  pray  !     Nor  let  the  angry  gods 

Decree  that  Drances  suffer  by  his  death 

The  penalty,  or,  if  it  be  a  chance 

Of  valor  and  of  fame,  win  such  renown." 


585 


590 


While  they  discussing  their  perplexed  affairs 

Contended  thus,  .^Eneas,  moving  on 

With  camp  and  army,  toward  their  city  came, 

When  through  the  royal  court  a  messenger 

Bursts  in,  and  fills  the  city  with  alarm  :  — 

"  That  from  the  Tiber,  ranged  in  battle  line, 

The  Trojans  and'the  Tuscans  on  the  plains 

Were  marching  down."     Then  all  at  once  dismay 

And  bristling  anger  heave  the  excited  crowd. 

The  youths  with  hurrying  haste  call  out  for  arms; 

While,  muttering  sad  and  low,  the  fathers  mourn. 

Dissenting  voices  clamor  all  around  ; 

As  flocks  of  birds,  when  in  some  lofty  wood 

They  light,  or  by  Padusa's  fishy  stream 

Clatter  hoarse  swans  about  the  echoing  pools. 


595 


600 


605 


Book   XL 

Then  Turnus,  seizing  the  occasion,  speaks:  — 
"Ay,  citizens,  convene  your  council  now, 
And,  sitting,  sound  your  praise  o\   peace,  while  they 
In  arms  are  hastening  on  upon  our  realms!  "  610 

No  more  he  said,  but  from  the  lofty  halls 
He  dashed  away.      "Thou,  Volusus,"  he  said, 
"Command  the  Volscian  and  Rutulian  hands. 
Messapus,  Coras,  with  thy  brother  joined, 
Pour  down  your  armed  horsemen  on  the  fields.  615 

Let  some  secure  the  gateways  of  the  town, 
And  let  some  man  the  towers.     The  rest,  with  me, 
Attend,  as  I  command."     Then  to  the  walls 
They  flock  from  all  the  town.     The  king  himself 
Forsakes  the  council,  and  his  great  designs  620 

Defers,  afflicted  by  the  gloomy  time. 
Himself  he  accuses  much,  that  with  free  choice 
Trojan  ,/Eneas  had  not  been  received 
Within  his  city  as  his  son-in-law. 

Trenches  are  dug  before  the  gates,  and  rocks  615 

And  palisades  heaved  up.     The  trumpet  hoarse 
Rings  out  its  bloody  signal  for  the  war. 
Matrons  and  boys  cluster  in  different  rings 
Upon  the  walls.     The  last  extremity 
Calls  upon  every  one.     The  queen  herself  630 


470  The   Aineid. 

To  Pallas'  temple  and  high  citadels 

Is  borne,  attended  by  a  matron  train, 

With  offerings.     At  her  side  Lavinia  stands, 

Cause  of  these  ills,  her  lovely  eyes  cast  down. 

The  matrons  follow,  and  fill  the  temple  full  63S 

Of  censer  fumes,  and  pour  forth  doleful  prayers. 

"Tritonian  Virgin,  strong  in  arms  !  "  they  cry, 

"  Great  arbitress  of  war,  break  with  thy  hand 

This  Phrygian  robber's  lance,  and  hurl  him  down 

Prone  on  the  ground  beneath  our  lofty  gates  !  "  64o 

Armed  for  the  battle,  fired  with  martial  zeal, 

Turnus  himself  is  there;  upon  his  breast 

A  corslet  of  Rutulian  garb  he  wears, 

And  rough  with  brazen  scales;   his  thighs  are  cased 

In  gold  ;  his  temples  bare  as  yet ;  his  sword  645 

Is  girt  upon  his  side.     From  the  high  tower, 

Glittering  in  gold,  he  runs  exulting  down. 

E'en  now  in  thought  he  leaps  upon  his  foe. 

As  when  a  steed  has  broken  from  the  reins, 

And,  free  at  last,  he  leaves  his  stall  behind,  f>s° 

Ranging  the  open  field,  and  either  seeks 

The  pastures  and  the  herds  of  grazing  mares, 

Or  the  accustomed  river,  on  he  flies 


Book  xi.  471 

With  crest  erect,  and  loud  and  lusty  neigh, 

And  on  his  neck  and  shoulders  floats  his  mane.  65S 

Him,  face  to  face,  Camilla,  leading  on 

Her  hand  of  Yolscian  riders,  meets.      The  queen 

Leaps  from  her  horse,  beneath  the  very  gates ; 

And  the  whole  cohort  follows,  from  their  .steeds 

Dismounting;   when  she  thus  addresses  him: —  660 

"Turnus,  if  valor  its  own  faith  may  trust, 

I  dare,  and  pledge  myself,  to  meet  alone 

The  Trojan  troops  and  Tuscan  cavalry. 

Surfer  me  now  to  make  the  first  essay 

Of  danger;   while  on  foot  thou  stay'st  behind,  665 

To  guard  the  city."     At  these  words,  the  chief 

Upon  the  terrible  maiden  fixed  his  eyes. 

"O  virgin,  pride  of  Italy,"  he  said, 

"What     thanks,     what     answer    can     I     speak?        But 

now, 
Since  that  brave  soul  of  thine  surmounts  all  fears,  670 

This  labor  share  with  me.      /Eneas  now, 
bo  rumor  speaks,  and  so  our  scouts  report, 
Has  rashly  sent  before  a  band  of  horse, 
Light-armed,  to  scour  the  plains;    while  he  himself 
Down  from  the  lonely  mountain  steeps  descends 


472  The  Aineid. 

Upon  the  city.     I  an  ambuscade 

Shall  plan  within  a  winding  forest  path, 

And  the  two  openings  of  the  road  invest 

With  armed  men.     Thou  in  close  fight  engage 

The  Tuscan  cavalry.     With  thee  shall  stay  680 

The  brave  Messapus,  and  the  Latian  troops, 

And  the  Tiburtine  band.     The  leader's  charge 

Take  thou."     He  with  a  like  address  exhorts 

Messapus  and  the  leaders  to  their  task ; 

Then  marches  on  to  meet  the  enemy.  685 

Within  a  valley  lies  a  winding  gorge, 

For  ambush  and  the  stratagems  of  war 

Well  fitted.     Upon  either  side  slope  down 

Close  screens  of  forest  foliage  dark  and  thick ; 

A  narrow  path  between,  through  steep  defiles  690 

That  ope  their  wicked  throats  at  either  end. 

Above,  upon  the  heights,  there  lies  a  plain, 

Hidden  from  view,  with  lurking-places  safe, 

Whither  from  right  or  left  the  attack  be  made, 

Or  threatening  rocks  be  toppled  from  the  cliffs.  695 

The  youthful  warrior  to  this  well-known  spot 

Repairs,  and  takes  possession  of  the  place, 

And  in  the  dangerous  forest  lies  in  wait. 


Book    XL  47  ) 

Meanwhile  Diana  in  the  upper  realms 
Addressed  swift  Opis,  one  of    the  virgin  band  700 

Of  nymphs,  companions  in  her  sacred  train. 
"  O  virgin,"  she  began  in  accents  sad, 
"Camilla  to  a  cruel  war  is  going, 
And  with  our  weapons  arms  herself,  in  vain;  — 
She,  dear  to  me  before  all  other  maids.  705 

Nor  is  it  new,  this  love  Diana  bears 
To  her  ;   no  sudden  fondness  moves  her  soul. 
When  from  his  kingdom  Metabus  was  driven, 
By  hatred  of  his  proud  abuse  of  power, 
And  from  Privernum's  ancient  city  fled,  710 

Escaping  through  the  thickest  of  the  battle, 
He  bore  away  with  him  his  infant  child, 
Companion  of  his  exile,  calling  her 
Camilla,  from  his  wife  Casmilla's  name. 
He,  in  his  bosom  bearing  her,  pressed  on  715 

Toward  the  mountains  and  the  lonely  woods. 
The  Volscians  all  around  him  hovered  close, 
And  pressed  upon  him  with  their  cruel  darts, 
When,  midway  in  his  flight,  the  Amasene 
Before  him  rolled,  and  overflowed  its  hanks, 
Swollen  with  the  rain.      Preparing  then  to  swim, 
The  love  he  bore  his  child  restrained  his  Stcj 
60 


474  Tke   Alneid. 

So  great  the  fear  his  precious  burden  waked. 

Every  expedient  in  his  thoughts  he  turned, 

Till,  sudden,  this  resolve  with  pain  he  formed.  7*5 

A  lance  enormous  in  his  powerful  hand 

The  warrior  bore,  well  seasoned,  tough  with  knots ; 

To  this  he  binds  his  child,  and  swathes  her  round 

With  bark  of  forest  cork,  and  deftly  ties 

The  infant  round  the  middle  of  his  spear.  730 

Then  with  his  huge  right  hand  he  poises  it, 

And  thus  to  heaven  he  prays  :   "  Latonian  maid, 

Blest  dweller  in  the  woods,  to  thee  this  sire 

Devotes  his  child,  a  handmaid  vowed  to  thee. 

Holding  thy  weapon,  suppliant,  thus  she  takes  73s 

Through  air  her  early  flight,  to  shun  the  foe. 

O  goddess,  I  beseech,  accept  thine  own, 

To  the  uncertain  winds  committed  now  !  " 

He  said  ;  and  drawing  back  his  bended  arm, 

He  hurled  the  lance.     The  billows  sounded  on.  740 

Across  the  rapid  river  the  poor  child 

Camilla  flew  upon  the  whizzing  spear. 

But  Metabus,  —  for  near  and  nearer  yet 

A  mighty  band  was  pressing  on  his  steps, — 

Plunged  in  the  river,  and  victorious  plucked  74s 

His  spear,  and  with  it,  Dian's  gift,  the  maid, 


Book    xi.  .17  5 

Out  from  the  grassy  turf.     But  him  no  house 

Nor  city  walls  received.      Nor  would  lie  have  deigned 
Such  tare,  so  savage  and  untamed  was  he. 
Amid  the  lonely  mountains  there,  he  led  750 

A  shepherd's  life.     There  in  the  thickets  rough 

And  dismal  haunts  of  beasts,  he  reared  his  babe 

With  the  wild  milk  of  mares,  and  strained  the  U 

Into  her  tender  lips.     Soon  as  the  child 

Had  printed  her  first  footsteps  on  the  ground, 

He  placed  the  javelin  in  her  little  hands, 

And  from  her  shoulder  hung  a  bow  and  arrows. 

Instead  of  gold  to  bind  her  hair,  and  robes 

\\  ith  trailing  folds,  a  tiger's  skin  was  hung 

Upon  her  back,  depending  from  her  head.  7* 

Even  then  her  tender  hand  hurled  childish  darts, 

And     whirled     the     smooth-thonged    sling    about     her 

head, 
And  a  Strymonian  crane  or  snowy  swan 
Struck  down.     And  many  a  mother  sought  her  hand 
In  marriage  for  her  sons,  in  Tuscan  towns.  765 

But  she,  content  with  Dian  alone,  maintains 
Her  maiden  purity,  and  ceaseless  love 
Of  javelins  and  of  spears.      I  would  this  war 
Had  not  so  hurried  her  away,  to  attack 


476  The   Aineid. 

The  Trojan  troops;  for  she  is  dear  to  me,  770 

And  one  of  my  companions  might  have  been. 

But  since  the  bitter  fates  have  so  decreed, 

Go,  nymph,  glide  down  the  air,  and  seek  the  shores 

Of  Latium,  where  with  gloomy  auspices 

The  battle  now  begins.     These  weapons  take,  77s 

And  from  the  quiver  draw  the  avenging  shaft. 

Whoe'er  shall  wound  the  consecrated  maid, 

Or  Trojan  or  Italian,  he  by  this 

Shall  pay  to  me  the  forfeit  of  his  life. 

Then  her  lamented  body  will  I  bear  780 

Wrapped  in  a  hollow  cloud,  and  in  a  tomb 

Lay  her,  with  her  unconquered  arms,  to  rest 

Within  her  native  land."     She  said  ;  the  nymph 

Sped,  sounding,  through  the  yielding  air ;  a  cloud 

Of  wind  and  darkness  compassed  her  about.  78s 

Meanwhile  the  Trojan  troops,  the  Etruscan  chiefs, 

And  all  the  cavalry,  approach  the  walls, 

In  order  ranged.     The  coursers  leap  and  neigh 

Along  the  field,  and  fight  against  the  curb, 

And  wheel  about.      An  iron  field  of  spears  79° 

Bristles  afar,  and  lifted  weapons  blaze. 

Upon  the  other  side,  the  Latians  swift, 


Book    xi.  .17  7 

Messapus,  Coras  and  his  brother,  Come; 
Also  Camilla's  wing :  in  hostile  ranks 

They  threaten  with  their  lances  backward  drawn,  ?->s 

And  shake  their  javelins.      On  the  warriors  pre    , 
And  fierce  and  Mercer  neigh  the  battle-steeds. 

Advancing  now  within  a  javelin's  throw, 

Each  army  halted  ;   then  with  sudden  shouts 

They  cheer  and  spur  their  fiery  horses  on.  «oo 

From  all  sides  now  the  spears  rly  thick  and  fast, 

As  showers  of  sleet,  and  darken  all  the  sky. 

With  all  their  strength,  with  lance  opposed  to  lance, 

Tyrrhenus  and  Aconteus  forward  rush, 

And  clash  together  with  resounding  shock,  80s 

Steed  against  steed.      Aconteus  from  his  horse 

Is  hurled  afar,  like  some  swift  thunderbolt, 

Or  as  a  ponderous  weight  by  engine  shot, 

And  yields  his  life  in  air.      Confusion  then 

Seizes  the  Latian  troops,  who  turn  about,  «'° 

And  throw  their  shields  upon  their  backs,  and  fly, 

Urging  their  horses  to  the  city  walls. 

The  Trojans  follow,  and  Asilas  leads. 

And  now  they  neared  the  gates;   when  with  a  shout 

The  Latians  turn,  and  wheel  their  ductile  ste  8.5 


478  The   sEneid. 

And  charge  in  turn.     The  others  give  full  rein 
And  fly.     As  when  with  an  alternate  tide 
The  rolling  waves  now  rush  upon  the  land, 
And  foaming,  flood  the  rocks,  and  climb  to  touch 
The  farthest  sands,  now  backward  swiftly  suck  **> 

The  rolling  stones,  and  ebbing  leave  the  shore. 
Twice  the  Rutulians  to  their  walls  are  driven, 
And  twice  they  turn  and  face  their  foes  repulsed. 
But  when  in  the  third  battle-shock  they  met, 
Both  armies  intermingled,  man  to  man  ;  8*5 

Then  dying  groans,  corpses,  and  armor  mixed, 
Bodies  of  men,  and  horses  half  alive, 
Rolling  'mid  heaps  of  slain,  and  pools  of  blood, — 
So  fiercely  raged  the  fight.     Orsilochus 
Against  the  steed  of  Remulus  (he  feared  83° 

To  brave  the  rider)  hurled  a  spear  that  pierced 
Below  the  ear,  and  clung.     The  furious  steed, 
Galled  by  the  wound,  rears  high.     His  rider  falls 
And  rolls  upon  the  ground.     Catillus  fells 
Iolas,  and  Herminius  huge  of  limb,  835 

And  great  in  arms  and  courage  ;  — yellow  locks 
Graced  his  bare  head  ;   his  shoulders  too  were  bare, 
Exposed  to  wounds,  —  yet  ever  undismayed. 
Bent  down  with  pain,  he  writhes  beneath  the  spear 


Book   XL 


•I7(> 


Through  his  broad  shoulders  driven  deep  and  fixed,       *♦<> 

The  black  blood  flows  around  on  every  side; 

And  deadly  strokes  they  deal,  still  fighting  On, 

And  rushing  through  their  wounds  to  glorioilfl  death. 

But  through  the  thickest  of  the  carnage  borne, 

The  Amazon  Camilla  bounds  along,  845 

Armed  with  her  quiver,  and  with  one  breast  bare. 

And  now  she  showers  her  javelins  thick  and  fast, 

And  now  unwearied  grasps  her  halberd  strong. 

Upon  her  shoulder  rings  her  golden  bow, 

Diana's  arms.      Even  if  at  any  time  850 

Repulsed,  she  yielded  ground,  she  turns  again, 

And  aims  her  flying  arrows  from  her  bow. 

Around  her  rode  the  attendants  of  her  choice, 

Larina,  Tulla,  and,  with  brazen  axe, 

Tarpeia,  virgins  of  Italian  race,  855 

All  chosen  bv  the  sacred  maid  herself; 

Her  trusty  ministrants  they  were,  alike 

In  peace  and  war;  —  like  Thracian  Amazon  9 

Trampling  the  river-banks  of  Thermodon, 

And  righting  with  their  motley-metalled  arms, 

Either  around  Hippolyte,  or  when 

Penthesilea  in  her  martial  car 


480  The   </£}ieid. 

Returns  from  war,  and  with  tumultuous  yells 
The  female  bands  leap  with  their  crescent  shields. 

Who  first  before  thy  weapon,  and  who  last,  865 

Dread  maiden,  fell,  stretched  dying  on  the  ground  ? 
Eunaeus  first,  the  son  of  Clytius,  dies. 
His  breast  unshielded,  by  her  long  fir  spear 
Is  pierced;  and  from  his  mouth  flow  rills  of  blood; 
And  on  his  wound  he  writhes,  and  bites  the  ground.      870 
Then  Liris,  and  then  Pagasus :   the  one 
Grasping  his  reins,  as  from  his  wounded  horse 
He  falls;  the  other  reaching  helpless  arms 
To  stay  him  falling.     Both  at  once  are  slain. 
Amastrus  next,  the  son  of  Hippotas,  87s 

Is  added  to  her  victims.     Pressing  on, 
She  Tereas  and  Harpalycus  pursues, 
Demophoon  and  Chromis.     Every  shaft 
Hurled  from  her  hand  brings  down  some  Phrygian  slain. 
The  hunter  Ornytus  in  armor  strange  880 

Is  seen  afar  on  an  Apulian  steed, 
Upon  his  shoulders  broad  a  bullock's  hide, 
Upon  his  head  a  wolf's  wide  yawning  jaws 
And  white  teeth,  in  his  hand  a  rustic  lance. 
Amid  his  troops  he  moves  about,  and  towers  ss5 

Above  them  all.     Him  meeting  (no  hard  task, 


Book  xl  481 

1 1  is  band  being  routed),  with  her  darts  she  pierced; 

And  thus  addressed  with  stern  and  hostile  mien  :  — 

"And  didst  thou,  Tuscan,  think  that  in  the  woods 
Thou  here  wast  hunting  beasts?      The  day  has  come      890 

That  by  a  woman's  arm  refutes  thy  boast. 
Vet  to  the  Manes  of  thy  fathers  this, 
No  trifling  honor,  shalt  thou  bear  away, 
That  by  Camilla's  weapon  thou  didst  fall." 

Orsilochus  and  Butes  next  she  slew,  895 

Two  huge-limbed  Trojans.      Butes  lace  to  face 
Upon  his  horse  she  pierces  with  her  spear, 
Where  between  helm  and  corselet  gleamed  his  neck, 
Above  the  buckler  that  his  left  arm  held. 
Around  Orsilochus  she  wheels  in  flight  900 

Delusive,  then  in  narrower  circle  turns, 
Pursuing  the  pursuer.      Rising  then, 
With  her  strong  battle-axe  she  cleaves  him  through, 
With  strokes  redoubled,  while  he  begs  for  life  ; 
And  from  the  wound  the  brains  besmear  his  face.  9°S 

The  son  of  Aunus  of  the  Appenines 
Next  meets  her,  and  stops  short  with  sudden  tear. 
Of  race  Ligurian  not  the  last  was  he, 
W  bile  fate  permitted  crafty  stratagem. 
He,  when  he  sees  that  he  cannot  evade  9* 

61 


482  The   Aineid. 

By  flight  the  conflict,  nor  avoid  the  queen 

Close  pressing  on  him,  thus  resorts  to  guile  :  — 

"  What  wondrous  courage  does  a  woman  show, 

When  mounted  on  a  faithful  battle-steed ! 

Put  by  thy  means  of  flight,  and  hand  to  hand  9*5 

Meet  me  on  equal  ground,  and  fight  afoot. 

Soon  shalt  thou  know  whose  windy  boasting  first 

Shall  bring  its  punishment.'*     He  said  :   but  she, 

Burning  with  rage,  delivers  to  a  mate 

Her  steed,  confronting  him  with  equal  arms,  9*° 

Undaunted,  and  on  foot,  with  naked  sword, 

And  with  unblazoned  buckler.     But  the  youth, 

Thinking  to  conquer  by  a  stratagem, 

Turns  his  fleet  steed  and  flies,  with  iron  heel 

Goading  his  sides,  and  swiftly  borne  away.  9*5 

"Ah,  false  Ligurian  !  "  said  the  maid;  "in  vain, 

Elated  with  thy  pride,  in  vain  thou  try'st 

Thy  country's  slippery  wiles;   nor  shall  thy  tricks 

To  guileful  Aunus  take  thee  safely  back." 

Then  all  afire,  with  swiftly  flying  feet,  930 

His  horse  she  soon  outstrips,  and,  face  to  face, 

Seizing  his  reins,  assails,  and  strikes  him  down. 

Not  with  more  ease,  that  consecrated  bird, 

The  falcon,  from  a  lofty  rock,  pursues 


Book  xi,  483 

And  overtakes  a  dove  amid  the  clouds,  vis 

And  clutches  him,  and  tears  with  crooked  claws. 
And  blood  and  feathers  torn  drop  from  the  .skv. 

But  not  with  unobserving  eves  these  things 

The  sire  of  gods  and  men  on  high  beheld. 

The  Tuscan  Tarchon  he  enrlames  with  wrath,  940 

And  to  the  cruel  battle  goads  him  on. 

So,  'mid  the  carnage,  and  the  falling  ranks 

Tarchon  is  borne  along  upon  his  steed, 

And  animates  the  army's  flagging  wings, 

With  varying  words  appealing  to  each  man  945 

By  name,  and  rallying  all  their  baffled  strength. 

"  O  Tuscans,  whom  no  wrongs  can  spur  to  rage ! 

O  tame  and  spiritless!     What  fear  is  this? 

What  cowardice  ?     And  does  a  woman  drive 

Your  straggling  ranks,  and  put  them  thus  to  flight  ?        95° 

Why  do  we  bear  these  swords  and  spears  in  vain  ? 

Not  thus  to  Venus  and  her  nightly  wars 

Are  ye  so  slow  ;   nor  when  the  bended  pipes 

Or   Bacchus  call  the  choirs  to  sumptuous  feasts 

And  brimming  bowls,  —  your  joy,  your  high  desire.      95s 

While  your  sleek  augur  bids  you  to  the  rites, 

And  the  fat  victim  calls  to  lofty  groves." 


484  The  Alneid. 

So  saying,  he  spurs  his  steed  into  the  midst, 
Resolved  to  encounter  death.     On  Venulus 
He  charges  in  fierce  onset ;   from  his  horse  960 

He  grasps  and  tears  his  foe,  and  bears  him  off 
Before  him.     Then  a  mighty  shout  is  raised. 
The  Latins  turn  their  eyes.     But  Tarchon  fierce 
Flies  on,  and  bears  the  warrior  and  his  arms. 
Then  from  his  lance  he  breaks  the  sharp  steel  head,       965 
And  searches  for  the  parts  exposed,  to  deal 
A  mortal  wound.     His  struggling  foe  essays 
To  pluck  away  his  right  hand  from  his  throat, 
Opposing  force  to  force.     As  when  on  high 
A  tawny  eagle  bears  a  serpent  off,  970 

And  clings  to  it  with  griping  claws,  the  snake, 
Wounded  and  writhing,  twists  its  sinuous  rings, 
And  rears  its  bristling  scales  and  hissing  mouth  ; 
But  none  the  less  the  bird  with  crooked  beak 
Strikes  at  the  struggling  reptile,  and  the  air  975 

Beats  with  her  wings.     So  from  the  hostile  ranks 
Tarchon  exulting  bears  away  his  prey. 
Following  his  lead  the  Etruscans  all  rush  on. 

Then  round  the  swift  Camilla  Aruns  rides, 
Destined  to  death,  his  javelin  in  his  hand  ;  ^ 

With  cautious  skill  he  watches  for  his  chance. 


Book    A7. 

Where'er  the  maiden  drives  her  furious  course 

Amid  the  troops,  he  follows  silently, 

Watching  her  steps.      \\  here  with  victorious  speed 

She  from  the  enemy  returns,  that  way  985 

lie  turns  his  reins  unseen,  and  wheels  about; 

Tries  all  approaches,  traverses  her  path 

Through  all  its  rounds,  and  shakes  his  threatening  spear. 

By  chance  appeared  upon  the  held,  far  off, 
Chloreus,  who  once  was  priest  of  Cybele.  99° 

Distinguished  in  his  Phrygian  arms  he  shone, 
And  rode  upon  a  foaming  courser,  decked 
With  cloth  o'erspread  with  plumy  scales  of  brass, 
And  clasped  with  gold,  while  he  in  rich  attire 
Of  foreign  purple,  from  his  Lycian  bow  995 

Shot  his  Gortynian  shafts.     Upon  his  back. 
A  golden  quiver  rattled  ;   and  of  gold 
His  helmet  was.      He  wore  a  saffron  scarf; 
The  rustling  linen  folds  were  'broidered  o'er, 
And  gathered  in  a  yellow  golden  knot ;  1 

And  in  barbaric  sheaths  his  thighs  were  eased. 

Him  singling  out,  the  huntress  blindly  chased  ; 
Whether  she  wished  to  affix  the  Trojan  arms 
Upon  the  temple  gates,  or  show  herself 
In  captive  gold,  she,  rashly,  through  the  ranks  1 


486  The   Alneid. 

Pursues,  smit  with  a  woman's  love  of  spoils. 

Watching  his  time,  Aruns  his  javelin  takes, 

And  thus  to  heaven  he  prays  :   "  Apollo,  thou, 

Soracte's  guardian,  greatest  of  the  gods 

We  worship!     Thou  for  whom  the  pine-wood  fire       i°io 

Is  fed,  and  we  thy  pious  votaries  walk 

O'er  heaps  of  burning  coals,  —  grant,  mightiest  sire, 

That  from  our  arms  this  stain  we  may  erase. 

Not  spoils,  nor  trophies  from  a  vanquished  maid, 

Nor  booty  do  I  seek.     My  other  deeds  1015 

Will  bring  me  praise.     If  by  my  hand  struck  down, 

This  direful  pest  shall  fall,  then  willingly 

Will  I  return  inglorious  to  my  home." 

Apollo  heard,  and  in  his  mind  decreed 
That  half  his  suppliant's  prayer  should  be  fulfilled,        1020 
And  half  dispersed  in  air.     That  he  should  slay 
Camilla,  as  she  hurried  heedless  by, 
He  granted.     But  that  he  should  see  again 
His  native  land,  this  part  the  god  refused  ; 
And  in  the  stormy  winds  the  prayer  was  lost.  '025 

Then,  as  the  whizzing  javelin  cleaved  the  air, 
The  Volscians  turned  their  eyes  upon  their  queen. 
But  she  no  whizzing  sound  of  javelin  heard 
Along  the  air,  nor  heeded  aught,  until 


Book    XL 

Beneath  her  naked  breast  the  weapon  pierced,  iqjo 

And  clung,  deep  driven,  and  drank  her  virgin  blood, 

In  trembling  haste  the  attendants  in  her  train 

Rush  forward,  and  sustain  their  tailing  queen. 

But  Aruns,  smit  with  mingled   joy  and  fear, 

Flies,  nor  will  further  trust  his  spear,  nor  dare  ioj$ 

To  brave  the  virgin's  darts.     And  as  a  wolf, 

Who,  having  slain  a  shepherd  or  a  steer, 

Before  pursuit  begins,  in  conscious  guilt 

Flies  to  the  mountains  by  some  secret  path, 

And  with  his  coward  tail  beneath  him,  hides  1040 

Trembling  amid  the  woods ;  so  Aruns  flies, 

Disturbed,  and  yet  well  pleased  at  his  escape, 

And  mingles  with  the  troops.     She,  dying,  strives 

To  pluck  the  weapon  from  her  wound  ;   but  deep 

Between  her  ribs  the  pointed  steel  is  fixed. 

Bloodless  and  pale  she  sinks;   her  heavy  eyes 

Are  closed  ;   the  rosy  flush  has  left  her  face. 

Then  thus,  expiring,  she  to  Acca  speaks, 

One  of  her  equals,  who  before  all  others 

Was  true  to  her,  and  one  with  whom  her  cares  1 

Were  all  divided  :    "  Acca,  sister  dear, 

Thus  far  I  have  striven;  —  but  this  bitter  wound 

Has  ended  all;  —  around  me  all  grows  dark. 


488  The  Aineid. 

Haste,  bear  to  Turnus  these  my  last  commands. 

Let  him  advance,  and  from  the  city  drive  1055 

The  Trojans  ;  now,  farewell !  "     With  that  she  loosed 

Her  grasp  upon  her  reins,  and  sinking,  fell. 

From  her  cold  limbs  and  languid  neck,  the  life 

With  gradual  ebb,  departs ;  her  drooping  head 

Is  bowed  in  death  ;  the  weapon  leaves  her  hand  ;  »o6o 

And  with  a  groan  the  indignant  spirit  fled 

Into  the  shades  below.     Then  a  great  cry 

Ascends,  that  strikes  against  the  golden  stars. 

The  combat  deepens  with  Camilla's  death. 

And  the  whole  Trojan  force,  the  Tuscan  chiefs,  1065 

And  all  the  Arcadian  troops  come  rushing  on. 

But  Opis,  Dian's  guardian  nymph,  had  sat 

Long  on  the  mountains,  and  had  watched  afar 

The  battle,  undismayed.     Soon  as  she  saw, 

Amid  the  clamor  of  the  furious  bands,  1070 

Camilla  stricken  down  by  bitter  death, 

She  groaned  ;  and  from  her  breast  escaped  these  words  :  — 

"Ah,  too,  too  cruel  punishment,  dear  maid, 

Thou  hast  borne,  for  warring  'gainst  the  Trojan  hosts  ! 

Nor  does  it  profit  thee,  that  lonely  life  »°75 

Amid  the  woods,  to  Dian's  service  given; 


Book     A7.  489 


Nor  on  thy  shoulder  to  have  worn  our  shafts. 

Yet  not  inglorious  in  thy  hour  extreme 

Thy  queen  hath  left  thee;   nor  shall  this  thy  death 

Among  the  nations  be  without  a  name. 

Nor  the  disgrace  of  dying  unavenged 

Shalt  thou  endure.      For  whosoever  dealt 

Thy  death-wound,  he  shall  suffer  death  deserved." 

Beneath  the  mountain  stood  a  spacious  tomb 
Oi  mounded  earth,  where  King  Dercennus  lay,  1085 

One  of  Laurentum's  ancient  sovereigns. 
A  shady  ilex  covered  it.     Here  first 
The  fair  nymph  from  a  rapid  Might  alights, 
And  watches  Aruns  from  the  lofty  mound. 
Soon  as  she  saw  him,  swollen  with  pride  and  joy,  —    1090 
"  Why  stray  so  far  away  ?      Here  bend  thy  steps," 
She  cried,  "  thou  doomed  one,  that  thou  may'st  receive 
Camilla's  due  reward.      Shalt  thou  too  die 
By  Dian's  shafts?"     Then  from  her  golden  quiver 
The  Thracian  nymph  a  winged  arrow  took, 
And,  angry,  drew  it  to  its  fullest  length, 
And  bent  her  bow  until  the  curved  tips  met  ; 
Her  left  hand  touched  the  arrow's  point  ;   her  right 
Grasping  the  string  drawn  back  upon  her  breast. 
At  the  same  instant  Aruns  hears  the  sound, 
62 


490  The  Aineid. 

And  feels  the  steel  deep  buried  in  his  heart. 
Him,  in  his  dying  groans,  his  comrades  leave, 
Regardless,  in  the  dust  of  fields  unknown, 
While  Opis  to  the  Olympian  sky  is  borne. 

Their  leader  lost,  Camilla's  light-armed  troop  noS 

First  flies ;  in  wild  disorder  next  the  Rutuli, 

And  bold  Atinas.     Routed  chiefs  and  bands 

All  turn  their  horses  toward  the  city's  walls. 

All  power  is  unavailing  to  resist 

The  Trojans  pressing  on,  and  dealing  death.  mo 

Their  languid  backs  bear  off  their  bows  unbent. 

Their  galloping  hoof-beats  shake  the  crumbling  ground. 

Toward  the  walls  black  clouds  of  dust  are  rolled. 

The  matrons  on  the  watch-towers  beat  their  breasts ; 

The  cries  of  women  to  the  heavens  ascend.  ms 

Those  who  are  first  to  pour  through  opened  gates, 

Are  pressed  behind  by  mingling  hostile  troops. 

With  no  escape  from  miserable  death  ; 

But  on  their  very  threshold,  'neath  their  walls, 

And  sheltering  roofs,  are  pierced,  and  breathe  their  last. 

Some  shut  their  doors,  nor  dare  e'en  to  their  friends      im 

To  ope  a  passage,  and  receive  them  in, 

Imploring.     And  a  slaughter  dire  ensues 


Book 


XL 


491 


At  every  entrance  where  defenders  stand 

Against  the  assailing  foe.      Some  are  shut  out, 

Full  in  their  wretched  parents'  Bight,  and  roll 

Plunged  in  the  trenches,  with  death  close  behind. 

Some  wildly  dash  and  batter  against  the  gates 

And  barricaded  doors.      Even  matrons  too, 

Fired  by  the  love  they  bore  their  land  and  homes, 

Rush  to  the  conflict,  as  Camilla  did  ; 

And  hurrying,  from  the  ramparts  throw  their  darts. 

Or,  imitating  arms  of  steel,  they  fight 

\\  ith  stakes  of  hardened  wood  and  pointed  poles, 

Eager  to  die  the  first  before  the  walls.  1135 

"Meanwhile  to  Turnus,  ambushed  in  the  woods, 

Acca  has  brought  the  news  of  dire  defeat 

And  wild  disorder  :   that  the  Volscian  troops 

Are  routed  and  destroyed  ;   Camilla  fallen  ; 

The  enemy,  pressing  on  with  furious  charge,  1140 

Have  won  the  day.      Fear  seizes  on  the  town. 

He,  furious  (such  the  stern  decrees  of  Jove), 

Deserts  his  ambuscade  and  forests  rough. 

Scarce  had  he  issued  on  the  open  fields, 

W  hen,  having  crossed  the  ridge,  yEneas  treads 

The  plains,  and  passes  through  the  gloomy  wood. 


49 2  The   Aineid. 

So,  both  at  rapid  pace,  with  all  their  force 

Move  onward  to  the  walls;  nor  far  apart 

They  march.     Far  off  iEneas  saw  the  plains 

Smoking  with  dust,  and  sees  the  Latian  troops  "50 

Across  the  plains.     And  Turnus  also  knew 

./Eneas,  in  his  formidable  arms, 

And  heard  the  trampling  feet  and  snorting  steeds. 

Then  would  they  twain  in  battle  have  engaged, 

Had  not  the  red  Sun  in  the  western  waves  1155 

His  weary  coursers  plunged,  and  day  declined 

In  night.     Within  their  camps  before  the  town 

They  rest,  with  trench  and  rampart  girded  round. 


BOOK    XII. 

A   S  soon  as  Turnus  sees  the  Latin  hosts, 
Broken  by  unsuccessful  war,  lose  heart ; 
That  now  fulfilment  of  his  promise  made 
Is  claimed,  and  he  marked  out  by  every  eye, 
W  ith  towering  soul  implacable  he  burns; 
As  when  a  lion  in  the  Lybian  fields 
Sore  wounded,  by  the  hunters,  in  the  breast, 
Prepares  at  last  for  battle,  and  delights 
To  -hake  the  muscles  of  his  shaggy  neck; 
Fearless,  he  snaps  the  invader's  clinging  shaft, 
And  roars  with  bloody  jaws.     So  Turnus'  wrath 
More  fiercely  glows.     Then  with  tumultuous  w« 
Thus  to  the  king  he  speaks  :   "  No  obstacle 
Shall  Turnus  prove;  —  there  is  no  reason  why 
These  dastard  Trojans  should  retract  their  word 
Of  challenge,  or  decline  their  compact  made. 
I  take  the  field!      Command  the  sacred  ri 
O  Sire,  and  seal  the  bond.      Either  my  hand 


494  The   sEneid. 

Shall  send  to  Tartarus  this  Dardan  foe, 

Asia's  deserter  (let  the  Latians  sit,  ao 

And  see),  and  with  the  sword  will  I  refute 

The  common  charge,  or  let  him  rule  o'er  us 

Vanquished,  and  take  Lavinia  for  his  wife." 

Then  tranquilly  Latinus  answered  him  :  — 

"  O  youth  of  valiant  soul,  the  more  thou  show'st  *s 

Such  fierce  and  overtopping  hardihood, 

The  more  't  is  just  that  I  with  anxious  thought 

Thy  safety  should  consult,  and  weigh  with  care 

All  risks.     Thy  father  Daunus'  realms  are  thine ; 

Thine  many  a  city  captured  by  thy  hands.  3° 

My  wealth  and  favor  too  would  go  with  thee. 

Other  unwedded  maids  in  Latian  lands 

There  are,  nor  of  ignoble  birth  are  they. 

Suffer  me  to  impart  without  disguise 

These  things,  not  pleasant  to  be  said;  and  hear  35 

With  an  attentive  mind.     It  was  decreed 

That  to  no  former  suitors  I  should  wed 

My  daughter  ;   this  all  gods  and  men  announced. 

But  overpowered  by  my  love  for  thee, 

And  by  thy  kindred  blood,  and  by  the  tears  40 

Of  my  afflicted  wife,  I  broke  all  bonds, 


Book  xii  495 

Snatched  from  a  son-in-law  his  promised  bride, 

And  took  up  impious  arms.      Thou  seest  what  u 

O  Turnus,  what  disasters  since  that  time 

Pursue  me;   and  what  sufferings  thou  in  chief  45 

Endurest.     Vanquished  twice  in  conflict  dire, 

Scarce  can  we  hold  our  hopes  of  Italy 

Within  the  city.     With  our  blood  the  waves 

Of  Tiber  still  rlow  warm.     The  spreading  fields 

Are  whitened  with  our  bones.     Why  thus  so  oft  50 

Should  I  be  driven  from  my  purpose  ?     Why 

Such  mad  infatuation  change  my  mind? 

If,  Turnus  slain,  I  am  ready  to  invite 

The  Trojans  as  my  allies,  then  why  not 

End  these  dissensions  rather,  he  still  safe  ?  55 

What  will  my  kinsmen  the  Rutulians  say, 

And  what  the  rest  of  Italy,  if  thee, 

Wooing  my  daughter,  I  betray  to  death  ? 

(May  Fortune  countervail  my  words  of  fear!) 

Regard  the  various  chances  of  the  war.  6o 

Pity  thy  aged  sire,  whom  mourning  now, 

His  native  Ardea  far  from  thee  divides." 

Hut  not  at  all  is  Turnus'  violence  moved 
By  words.      He  rather  towers  in  greater  wrath  ; 
The  medicine  but  aggravates  the  pain.  6s 


496  The  ^Eneid. 

As  soon  as  he  could  speak,  he  thus  began :  — 

"  Whatever  care  thou  entertain'st  for  me, 

Most  worthy  king,  lay  it  aside,  I  pray, 

And  suffer  me  to  purchase  praise  with  death. 

We  too,  O  Sire,  can  with  no  feeble  hand  ?° 

Scatter  our  spears  and  darts.     The  blood  will  flow 

From  wounds  we  deal.     No  goddess-mother  there 

Will  help,  in  female  semblance  of  a  cloud 

Screening  the  fugitive  in  empty  shades." 

But  filled  with  terror  at  this  new  design  75 

Of  battle,  weeping,  and  forecasting  death, 

The  queen  held  fast  her  ardent  son-in-law. 

"  Ah,  by  these  tears,  by  whatsoe'er  regard 

Thou  for  Amata  hast,  thou,  Turnus,  now, 

Art  the  sole  hope  and  solace  that  remains  80 

Unto  my  sad  old  age.     On  thee  depends 

Latinus'  power  and  glory  ;  upon  thee 

Our  house  declining  rests.     One  thing  I  beg;  — 

Refrain  from  battle  with  the  Trojan  power. 

Whate'er  calamity  to  thee  may  come,  ss 

Amid  this  combat,  Turnus,  comes  to  me. 

With  thee  will  I  this  hated  life  resign, 

Nor,  captive,  will  I  see  iEneas  made 


Book    XII. 

My  son-in-law."     Lavinia,  her  hot  cheeks 

Suffused  with  tears,  lists  to  her  mother's  voice.  90 

A  deep  blush  burns  and  courses  through   her  face  ; 

As  if  one  stained  the  Indian  ivory 

With  sanguine  crimson,  or  as  lilies  white 

In  beds  of  roses  glowing;  such  the  hues 

That  overspread  the  virgin's  face.      But  he,  9s 

Fired  with  tumultuous  love,  upon  the  maid 

Fixes  his  looks,  and  burns  the  more  for  arms. 

Then  briefly  to  Amata  thus  he  speaks:  — 

"  Nay,  not  with  tears,  O  mother,  not,  I  beg, 

With  such  an  omen  follow  me,  as  now  100 

Forth  to  the  strife  of  bitter  war  I  go. 

For  Turnus  has  no  power  to  stay  his  death. 

Idmon,  my  herald,  to  the  Phrygian  king 

These  words  of  mine,  no  pleasing  message,  bear. 

When,  borne  upon  her  glowing  car,  the  Morn  1  1 

Reddens  to-morrow's  sky,  let  him  not  lead 

The  Trojans  on  against  the  Rutuli. 

Let  Trojans  and  Rutulians  rest  from  arms. 

By  our  own  blood  we  '11  end  the  war,  and  there 

Upon  that  field  Lavinia  shall  be  won."  no 

This  said,  into  the  palace  he  withdraws 
03 


49 8  The   Aineid. 

With  rapid  steps,  and  for  his  horses  calls, 

Which  Orithyia  to  Pilumnus  gave. 

Proudly  he  sees  them  neigh  before  his  face; 

Whiter  than  snow,  fleeter  than  wind  they  were.  nj 

The  busy  grooms  surround  them  ;   with  their  hands 

They  pat  their  chests,  and  comb  their  waving  manes. 

Then  he  his  mail  about  his  shoulders  girds, 

Scaly  with  gold  and  orichalcum  pale ; 

And  fits  for  use  his  buckler  and  his  sword,  120 

And  ruddy  crest ;  that  sword  the  god  of  fire 

Had  wrought  for  his  father  Daunus,  and  had  plunged 

The  glowing  metal  in  the  Stygian  wave. 

Then  his  tough  spear  he  grasps,  that  leaned  against 

A  mighty  column  in  the  middle  court,  .  125 

Auruncan  Actor's  spoil,  and  brandishing 

The  quivering  steel,  exclaims  :   "  Now,  now,  my  spear, 

That  never  yet  did  fail  to  obey  my  call, 

The  hour  is  now  at  hand.     Great  Actor  once, 

Now  Turnus'  right  hand  wields  thee.     Grant  that  I      130 

With  this  strong  hand  may  fell  him  to  the  earth, 

Tear  the  effeminate  Phrygian's  corselet  off, 

And  soil  with  dust  his  locks  with  hot  iron  crisped, 

And  moist  with  myrrh  !  "     Such  fury  drives  him  on  ; 

Sparks  flashing  from  his  glowing  face,  and  fire  ns 


Book   xn.  4 1 

Fierce  gleaming  from  his  eyes.      As  when  .1  bull, 

Bellowing  with  dreadful  voice,  prepares  to  fight, 

And  whets  his  wrath  in  goring  'gainst  a  tree, 

With  angry  horns;   in  prelude  to  the  fray 

He  butts  the  winds,  and  tosses  up  the  sand.  140 

x 

Meanwhile  i^neas,  formidably  clad 

In  the  arms  his  mother  gave,  his  martial  fire 

And  zeal  awakes,  rejoicing  that  the  war 

Should  now  be  ended  on  the  proffered  terms. 

Then  he  consoles  his  friends,  and  calms  the  fears  145 

Of  sad  lulus,  and  explains  the  fates. 

Decided  answers  to  Latinus  then 

He  bids  them  bear,  and  terms  of  peace  prescribes. 

Scarce  had  the  Morning  tinged  the  mountain-tops, 

When  from  the  Sea  the  horses  of  the  Sun  «s° 

With  lifted  nostrils  breathing  light,  arose. 

Beneath  the  city-walls  the  Rutuli 

And  Trojans,  measuring  out  the  field,  prepared 

The  ground  for  combat.      To  their  common  gods 

Their  fires  and  turfy  altars  in  the  midst  * ss 

They  built;   while  some,  in  sacrificial  robes, 

And  crowned  with  vervain,  water  bring,  and  fire. 


e 


500  The  Aineid. 

Forth  come  the  Ausonian  bands  in  armed  array, 

All  crowding  through  the  gates.     On  the  other  side 

The  Trojan  and  the  Tuscan  armies  come  160 

With  various  arms,  and  marshalled  all  in  steel, 

As  though  the  battle  grim  had  called  them  forth. 

Their  leaders  too,  in  gold  and  crimson  proud, 

Go  coursing  o'er  the  field.      Mnestheus  is  there, 

Sprung  from  Assaracus,  Asilas  brave,  165 

Messapus,  the  steed-tamer,  Neptune's  son. 

And,  at  a  signal  given,  each  to  his  place 

Withdraws;   they  fix  their  spears  into  the  ground, 

And  rest  their  shields.     Then  pour,  with  eager  haste, 

The  matrons,  and  the  common  crowd,  unarmed,  170 

And  the  old  men  with  feeble  limbs,  and  rill 

The  towers  and  roofs,  and  throng  the  lofty  gates. 

But  Juno,  from  the  summit  of  the  mount 

Which  now  is  called  the  Alban,  but  which  then 

Nor  name  nor  fame  nor  honor  had,  looked  forth,  17s 

And  viewed  the  plain  beneath  ;  and  saw  both  hosts, 

The  Trojan  and  Laurentian,  and  the  town 

Of  King  Latinus.     Turnus'  sister  then 

She  thus  addressed,  a  goddess  who  presides 

O'er  pools  and  murmuring  streams;  this  honor  Jove      >so 


Book  xn.  501 

To  her,  for  violated  maidenhood, 

Had  given:   "O  nymph,  the  glory  o\   the  ttreaan  , 

Most  dear  unto  my  soul,  thou  know'st  that  thee 

Before  all  Latian  maids  who  shared  the  couch 

Ungrateful  or  great  Jove,  I  have  preferred  ;  i«s 

And  freely  gave  thee  a  portion  in  the  heavens. 

Learn  now  thy  grief,  Juturna,  lest  thou  shotlldst 

Accuse  me.      As  far  as  fortune  and  the  fates 

Allowed  for  Latium's  weal,  thy  city's  walls 

And  Turnus  I  protected.     Now  I  see 

The  youth  contending  with  unequal  fates. 

The  day  and  hostile  power  of  destiny 

Draw  near.      I  cannot  with  these  eyes  behold 

The  combat  or  the  league.     Thou,  if  thou  dar'st 

Do  aught  more  promptly  for  thy  brother's  aid,  «9S 

Do  it,  for  it  becomes  thee.     A  better  lot, 

Perchance,  will  yet  attend  this  hapless  race." 

Scarce  had  she  spoken,  when  Juturna's  eyes 
O'errlowed    with     tears.      Thrice    and     four    times    she 

beat 
Her  lovely  breast.      "No  time  is  this  for  tears," 
Saturnian  Juno  said;   "Haste!   snatch  from  death 
Thy  brother,  if  for  thee  there  be  a  way  ; 
Or  stir  the  war  anew,  and  break  the  league 


502  The  Alneid. 

Begun.      I  authorize  the  daring  deed." 

She,  having  thus  exhorted,  left  the  maid  »oS 

Perplexed  and  tortured  in  her  inmost  soul. 

Meanwhile  the  kings  go  forth.     Latinus  comes, 

In  form  majestic,  by  four  horses  drawn. 

Twelve  golden  rays  his  shining  temples  crown, 

The  emblem  of  his  ancestor,  the  Sun.  210 

Turnus  is  borne  by  two  white  steeds,  and  holds 

And  brandishes  two  spears  of  broad-tipped  steel. 

Father  iEneas,  upon  the  other  side, 

Source  of  the  Roman  race,  advancing  moves, 

Blazing  with  starry  shield  and  arms  divine ;  ^5 

Rome's  other  hope,  Ascanius,  at  his  side. 

The  priest,  in  raiment  pure,  then  led  along 

The  tender  youngling  of  a  bristly  sow, 

And  a  young  sheep  unshorn.     The  victims  then 

Are  brought  before  the  blazing  altar-fires.  **> 

They  to  the  rising  sun  then  turn  their  eyes, 

Sprinkle  the  sacrificial  meal,  and  mark 

The  victims'  foreheads  with  the  sword,  and  pour 

Libations  on  the  altars  from  their  bowls. 

Then  pious  /Eneas,  with  his  sword  unsheathed,  "s 

Thus  prays  :   "  Be  witness  now  unto  my  vows, 


Book  xii,  503 

O  Sun,  and  thou,  O  Land,  for  whom  I  have  borne 

So  many  toils;  —  and  thou,  Almighty  Sire, 

And  thy  Saturnian  spouse,  more  clement  now, 

O  goddess,  I  beseech;  —  thou  too,  great  Mara,  »jo 

Father,  who  turn'st  all  wars  by  thy  decree;  — 

And  you,  ye  Founts  and  Rivers  I  invoke  ;  — 

All  Powers  worshipped  in  the  depths  of  air, 

And  all  whose  dwelling  is  the  azure  sea. 

If  victory  to  Ausonian  Turnus  falls,  *3S 

Then  to  Evander's  city,  't  is  agreed, 

We  vanquished  shall  retire;   lulus  leaves 

These  fields  ;   nor  shall  the  sons  of  Troy  thenceforth 

Renew  the  war,  nor  stir  the  lands  to  strife. 

But  if  for  us  the  victory  should  decide,  m° 

As  I  believe  it  will,  —  and  may  the  gods 

Confirm  the  hope,  —  not  then  shall  I  command 

The  Italians  to  obey  the  Trojan  rule; 

Nor  do  I  aim  at  empire  for  myself: 

On  equal  terms  let  both  the  nations  then,  ms 

Unconquered,  join  and  make  eternal  league. 

Their  gods  and  sacred  rites  I  will  decree  ; 

And  let  the  father  of  my  bride  retain 

His  wonted  kingdom  and  control  of  arm\ 

For  me,  my  Trojans  shall  build  up  my  walls 


fo4  The  Aineid. 

And  call  the  city  by  Lavinia's  name." 

Thus  spoke  ./Eneas;   then  Latinus  raised 

His  eyes  to  heaven,  and  lifted  his  right  hand :  — 

"  By  those  same  Powers,  ./Eneas,  by  the  Earth, 

And  by  the  Seas,  and  by  the  Stars,  I  swear,  *j$ 

Latona's  twins,  and  Janus,  double-faced, 

The  Infernal  gods,  and  pitiless  Pluto's  shrines  ; 

Let  the  great  Father  hear,  whose  thunderbolts 

Confirm  our  leagues ;  these  altars  here  I  touch, 

And  call  their  fires  to  witness,  and  the  gods :  *&> 

No  day  shall  ever  violate  this  peace, 

Or  break  this  league,  upon  Italia's  side, 

Whate'er  befalls ;  nor  any  power  shall  bend 

My  will,  though  it  should  drown  the  earth  with  waves, 

And  melt  the  heavens  in  fires  of  Tartarus.  165 

Even  as  this  sceptre  (as  he  spoke  he  held 

A  sceptre  in  his  hand)  shall  never  bud 

With  twigs  and  leaves  and  shadowy  boughs  again, 

Since,  severed  from  its  trunk  amid  the  woods, 

It  missed  its  mother  stem,  and  laid  aside  170 

Its  foliage  and  its  branches  'neath  the  axe, 

Of  old  a  tree,  now  by  the  artists'  hand 

Cased  in  bright  brass,  to  serve  the  Latin  kings." 


Book    Ml. 

Thus  they  with  mutual  vowi  confirmed  their  league, 
In  sight  of  all  the  chiefs.     Then  La  due  form 

They  slay  the  sacred  victims  o'er  the  flam 
And  tear  their  entrails  out,  while  still  alive; 
And  heap  the  altars  with  their  loaded  plates. 

But  long  this  combat  to  the  Rutuli 

Had  seemed  unequal,  and  their  minds  were  tossed  »s<> 

With  various  fears,  the  more  when  they  perceive 
More  nearly  how  ill-matched  in  strength  it  stood. 
Their  fears  increased,  when  with  a  silent  step, 
Turnus  advanced  with  downcast,  suppliant  looks, 
And  reverently  before  the  altars  bowed,  *ss 

With  haggard  cheeks,  and  youthful  frame  all  pale. 
Then,  when  Juturna  saw  such  signs  caught  up 
And  spread,  and  saw  the  wavering  spirits  sink 
Amid  the  crowd,  she  took  Camertus'  form 
(He  was  of  noble  race  and  ancestors,  ■!■ 

And  from  his  father's  valor  had  derived 
A  name  of  note,  himself  renowned  in  arm 
And  in  the  midst  of  all  the  armed  troops, 
Not  ignorant  of  expedients,  she  appears, 
And  various  rumors  spreads.      Then  thus  she  -peaks:  — 
"  O  ye  Rutulians,  are  ye  not  ashamed 
64 


506  The   Aineid. 

To  expose  one  life  for  all  of  equal  worth  ? 

Are  we  not  matched  in  numbers  and  in  strength  ? 

Lo  !  Trojans  and  Arcadians,  all  are  here ; 

Etruria  too  arrays  her  fated  bands  30° 

Against  our  Turnus;  yet  we  scarce  should  find 

A  foe,  though  but  each  second  man  should  fight. 

Our  chief  shall  be  exalted  to  the  gods, 

Before  whose  altars  he  devotes  his  soul; 

And  in  the  mouths  of  men  his  fame  shall  live.  3°5 

But  we,  who  now  sit  idle  on  these  fields, 

Our  country  lost,  must  yield  to  our  haughty  lords." 

By  words  like  these  the  warriors  were  inflamed 

Yet  more  and  more;  a  murmur  through  the  ranks 

Went  creeping  :  the  Laurentian  troops  themselves,         3'° 

And  those  same  Latians  who  but  lately  hoped 

Respite  from  war,  and  safety  to  the  state, 

Now  turn  to  arms,  and  wish  the  league  unmade, 

And  pity  the  hard  lot  on  Turnus  fallen. 

To  these  a  stronger  spur  Juturna  adds,  3*5 

And  from  the  upper  sky  she  gives  a  sign, 

Than  which  no  miracle  more  closely  pressed 

Disturbance  on  their  minds,  or  so  deceived. 

For  now  they  saw  the  tawny  bird  of  Jove 


Book   xn.  507 

Chasing  across  the  ruddy  sky  I  Hock 

Of  clamoring  water-fowl  ;   then  suddenly 

Sweep  to  the  waves,  ami  in  his  cruel  claws 

Hear  off  a  goodly  swan.      The  Italians  gaze 

With  minds  intent;   when,  wonderful  to  see, 

The  birds  all  wheel  about  with  noisy  cries,  1*3 

Darkening  the  air,  a  cloud  of  flying  wings, 

And  chase  their  foe,  till,  conquered  by  their  Strength 

And  weight,  the  eagle  in  the  river  drops 

His  prey,  and  disappears  amid  the  clouds. 

With  shouts  the  Rutuli  this  omen  greet;  »« 

Their  weapons  they  prepare  to  seize.     Then  first, 

Tolumnius  the  augur  thus  exclaims:  — 

"This,  this  is  what  I  often  sought,  with  prayers; 

I  see,  and  must  accept  the  power  divine. 

Your  leader  I  will  be,  unhappy  men  ;  35s 

You,  whom  like  timid  fowls  this  wicked  stranger 

Dismays  with  war,  and  devastates  your  shores. 

Now  let  him  plan  his  flight,  and  on  the  deep 

Set  sail.      But  you  with  one  accord  close  up 

Your  ranks,  and  from  this  combat  save  your  king,  n° 

Whom  they  would  snatch  away  from  you."      lie  said, 

And,  running,  hurled  a  javelin  at  his  toes. 


So8  The  sEneid. 

Straight  through  the  air  the  whizzing  cornel-shaft 

Flies  with  unerring  aim.     Then  all  at  once 

A  shout  arose  :  the  thickly  serried  crowd  345 

Is  stirred,  and  each  tumultuous  heart  ablaze. 

Full  in  the  pathway  of  the  flying  spear 

There  stood  nine  brothers,  all  of  beauty  rare: 

One  faithful  Tuscan  wife  had  borne  them  all; 

Arcadian  Gylippus  was  their  sire.  350 

One,  a  fair  youth,  in  shining  arms,  is  pierced 

Just  where  the  clasping  belt  confines  the  waist;  — 

Pierced  through  the  ribs,  and  on  the  yellow  sand 

His  limbs  are  stretched.     At  this  the  brethren  all, 

A  fearless  band,  with  rage  and  grief  inflamed,  35s 

Some  with  drawn  swords,  and  some  with  missile  spears, 

Rush  blindly  forth.     Laurentum's  troops  oppose. 

Trojans  and  Tuscans  pour  in  thick  array, 

And  the  Arcadian  bands  with  painted  shields. 

So,  to  decide  the  battle  with  the  sword,  36° 

All  burn  alike.     The  altars  they  despoil. 

The  sky  is  dark  with  stormy  showers  of  steel. 

They  carry  off  the  sacred  bowls  and  hearths. 

Even  Latinus  flies,  and  bears  away 

His  baffled  gods,  since  broken  lies  the  league.  36s 

Some  rein  their  cars,  or  leap  upon  their  steeds, 


Book    mi.  509 

And  draw  their  swords.      Mcssapus,  eager  now 

To  break  the  truce,  against  Aulestei  drive   , 

Mounted  upon  his  horse;   a  Tuscan  king 

He  was,  and  wore  the  badge*  of  a  kin;^. 

Retreating,  'mid  the  altars  placed  behind, 

Upon  his  head  and  shoulders  down  he  tails. 

Hotly  Messapus  follows  with  his  spear, 

And,  rising  on  his  steed,  with  ponderous  lance 

Thrusts  heavily,  while  he  implores  for  life,  rs 

"He  has  it  now,"  the  chieftain  said;   "this  life 

A  worthier  victim  to  the  gods  is  given." 

The  Italians  flock,  and  strip  his  limbs  yet  warm. 

Then  Coryna?us  from  an  altar  grasps 

A  burning  brand,  and,  meeting  Ebusus  i*« 

Coming  to  aim  a  blow,  confronts  him  full, 

And  dashes  in  his  face  the  flames,  that  catch 

And  singe  his  heavy  beard,  with  burning  scent. 

Then,  following  up  the  attack,  with  his  left  hand 

He  grasps  the  hair  of  his  astounded  foe  ;  3>s 

And,  pressing  with  his  knee,  he  holds  him  fas! 

Down  to  the  earth,  and  stabs  him  through  the  side. 

Then  Podalirius  with  his  naked  sword 

Pursues  the  shepherd  Alsus,  pressing  close, 

As  in  the  battle's  front,  amid  the  darts  39° 


5 1  o  The   Aineid. 

He  rushes  on  ;  but  Alsus,  drawing  back 

His  axe,  smites  through  his  forehead  and  his  chin, 

And  cleaves  him  down,  and  with  the  spattered  blood 

Besmears  his  armor ;  then  the  rigid  rest 

And  iron  sleep  of  death  press  down  his  eyes,  395 

That  close  forever  in  eternal  night. 

But  good  /Eneas,  with  uncovered  head, 

Stretched      his      right      hand      unarmed,     and      called 

aloud :  — 
"  Whither,  my  men,  whither  away  so  fast  ? 
What  sudden  discord  's  this  ?     Restrain  your  rage  !         4°° 
The  league  is  made,  and  all  its  rules  arranged. 
I  only  have  a  right  to  take  the  field. 
Yield  now  to  me ;   dismiss  these  fears  of  yours. 
I  with  my  hand  shall  make  the  treaty  firm. 
These  sacred  rites  make  Turnus  due  to  me."  405 

But  while  he  yet  is  speaking,  lo  !   there  flies 
A  whizzing  arrow  at  the  hero  aimed; 
None  knew  by  whose  strong  hand  it  was  impelled, — 
What  accident,  what  god,  brought  such  a  fame 
To  the  Rutulian  arms;   the  high  renown  41° 

Of  such  a  deed  was  hid  ;   no  one  made  boast 
That  'gainst  ./Eneas  he  had  aimed  the  blow. 


Book   xu.  5 1 1 

As  soon  as  Turnus  saw  the  Trojan  chief 

Retiring  from  the  ranks,  the  leaders  all 

Thrown  in  commotion,  with  a  sudden  hope 

He  fires;   he  calls  tor  horses  and  tor  arm  , 

Springs  proudly  to  his  chariot  with  a  hound, 

And  takes  the  reins.     Then,  as  he  flies  along, 

He  many  a  hero's  form  devotes  to  death, 

Many  half  dead  he  rolls  upon  the  plain,  4»o 

Or  with  his  chariot  tramples  down  their  ranks, 

Or  drives  them  flying  with  his  gathered  dart-. 

As  when,  impetuous,  by  cold  Hebrus'  waves 

The  bloody  Mars  comes  clashing  with  his  shield, 

And,  kindling  war,  lets  loose  his  furious  steeds; 


Upon  the  plain  they  outstrip  the  southern  winds 
And  western  winds;   their  trampling  feet  are  heard 
In  thunder  on  the  farthest  bounds  of  Thrace  ; 
And  round  about,  attendants  of  the  god, 
The  gloomy  faces  throng,  black  Terror  and  Wrath 
And  Stratagem;  —  so  through  the  battle's  midst 
Fierce  Turnus  drives  his  steeds,  that  steam  with  sweat, 
And  rides,  insulting,  o'er  the  wretched  slain. 
Scattering  the  bloody  dew,  their  rapid  ho 
Beat  up  the  gorv  sand.      And  now  he  slays 
Sthenelus  and  Thamyris ;   these  hand  to  hand  ; 


5 1 2  The   ^Eneid. 

And  Pholus  at  a  distance ;   Glaucus,  too, 

And  Lades,  both  the  sons  of  Imbrasus, 

Bred  by  their  sire  in  Lycia,  and  equipped 

With  equal  skill  in  arms,  whether  to  fight  440 

In  combat  close  or  outstrip  with  steeds  the  wind. 

Eumedes  in  another  quarter  comes, 

Borne  to  the  middle  of  the  fray ;  the  son 

Of  ancient  Dolon  he,  renowned  in  arms: 

He  bore  his  grandsire's  name,  his  father's  soul  445 

And  strength  (who  once  into  the  Grecian  camp 

Went  as  a  spy,  and  as  a  guerdon  sought 

The  chariot  of  Pelides.     Tydeus'  son 

A  different  recompense  bestowed  on  him 

For  such  presumptuous  claim,  no  longer  now  45° 

Aspiring  to  possess  Achilles'  steeds). 

Him  when  afar  upon  the  open  field 

Turnus  beheld,  he  through  the  distance  sent 

A  flying  dart;  then  stops  his  harnessed  steeds, 

And,  leaping  from  his  chariot,  meets  his  foe,  455 

Half  dead  and  fallen  ;   and  pressing  with  his  foot 

The  warrior's  neck,  wrests  from  his  hand  his  sword, 

And  plunges  in  his  throat  the  shining  blade. 

"  Troian,  lie  there,  and  measure  thus,"  he  cries, 


Book   xii.  5 1  j 

"Our  fields,  and  that  Hetpeiit  BOttghl  in  war.  4*0 

Bach  their  rewards  who  venture  with  the  BWOrd 
To  hrave  me;  thus  they  build  their  city's  walls!  " 
Hurling  his  lance,  lie  sends  AtbutCfl  then 
To  hear  him  company  ;   then  C'hloreas  next, 
Sybaris,  Dares,  and  Thersilochus ; 
Thymuses  too,  thrown  from  his  plunging  steed. 
As  when  the  blast  of  Thracian  Boreas  roars 
Along  the  deep  /Ega?an,  and  pursues 
The  billows  to  the  shore,  the  incumbent  storm 
Drives  o'er  the  sky  the  flocks  of  riving  clouds;  4-> 

So,  wheresoever  Turnus  cuts  his  path, 
The  troops  give  way,  the  routed  squadrons  fly. 
Against  his  rushing  car,  as  on  he  drives, 
The  blowing  wind  shakes  back  his  flying  ere 
Him  pressing  on,  and  shouting  in  his  rage,  4-; 

Phegeus  could  not  bear,  but  in  his  course 
Opposed,  and  grasping  at  his  courser's  reins 
Twisted  their  foaming  mouths.      While  dragged  along 
He  hangs  upon  the  pole,  the  chief's  broad  lance 
Reaches  him,  unprotected,  piercing  throu  *,J 

His  double-woven  corselet,  with  a  wound 
Cirazing  his  skin.      But  he  with  shield  op 
And  with  drawn  sword  confronts  his  enemy  : 
65 


514  The   Aineid. 

When,  dashing  on  its  course,  the  whirling  car 
O'erthrew  him  headlong,  stretched  upon  the  ground.     485 
And  Turnus,  following  fast,  struck  off  his  head 
Between  the  corselet  and  the  helmet's  rim, 
And  left  the  headless  body  on  the  sand. 

But  while  victorious  Turnus  in  the  field 

Is  dealing  death,  ./Eneas  to  the  camp,  490 

Bleeding,  is  led,  Mnestheus  attending  him, 

And  true  Achates  and  Ascanius  near. 

On  his  long  spear  he  leans,  with  faltering  steps, 

And  strives  impatiently  to  pluck  away 

The  broken  shaft,  and  seeks  the  nearest  aid ;  495 

That  they  should  make  incision  with  the  sword, 

Lay  bare  the  wound  about  the  hidden  steel, 

And  send  him  back  again  into  the  field. 

And  now  lapis  came  to  lend  his  aid, 

Son  of  Iasius,  more  than  all  beloved  5°° 

By  Phoebus ;   for  on  him  the  god  himself, 

Smit  with  deep  love,  had  offered  to  bestow 

His  arts,  his  gifts,  his  skill  in  augury, 

His  lyre,  and  flying  shafts ;  but  he  preferred 

(To  lengthen  out  a  dying  father's  life)  s°s 

That  he  might  know  the  powers  of  herbs,  and  cures, 


Book    xii.  5  1 5 

And  silent  arts  ingloriously  pursue. 
Chafing  with  bitter  wrath,  ASneas  stood, 
And  leaned  upon  his  mighty  spear,  unmoved, 

Amid  the  crowd,  by  all  the  warriors'  grief  s»° 

And  tears  of  sad  lulus.     Then  approached 

The  old  physician,  with  his  robe  tucked  back, 

After  the  manner  of  his  craft ;   his  hand 

With  many  a  medicine  and  potent  herb, 

In  trembling  eagerness,  attempts  relief,  $15 

But  all  in  vain  ;   in  vain  the  barbed  steel 

Solicits,  and  with  grip  of  pincers  firm 

Essays  to  move;   no  way  will  Fortune  show. 

Apollo,  his  great  patron,  lends  no  aid. 

And  more  and  more  the  horror  in  the  fields  s*° 

Increases,  and  the  terror  nearer  comes. 

The  sky  stands  dense  with  dust ;   around  them  crowd 

The  horsemen  of  the  foe;   the  darts  rain  thick 

Upon  the  camp;   and  to  the  heavens  ascend 

The  death-cries  from  the  cruel  battle-field.  s»s 

The  goddess-mother,  Venus,  troubled  now 

That  pain  unmerited  had  touched  her  son, 

On  Cretan  Ida  gathers  dittany, 

With  downy  leaves  and  crimson  blossoms  crowned  : 


5  1 6  The   Aineid. 

To  the  wild  goats  the  plant  is  not  unknown,  530 

When  pierced  by  flying  darts.     This  Venus  brought, 

Veiled  in  a  shadowy  cloud;  she  steeps  the  herb 

In  water  poured  into  a  shining  vase, 

Healing  ambrosial  juices  sprinkling  in, 

And  fragrant  panacea;   and  with  this  535 

The  old  lapis,  ignorant  of  its  power, 

Bathing  the  wound,  all  pain  his  body  left 

At  once,  and  to  the  bottom  of  the  gash 

The    blood    was    stanched ;     and    following    now    his 

hand, 
Without  an  effort  out  the  arrow  dropped,  540 

And  all  Eneas'  former  strength  returned. 
"Quick,    bring    the    hero's    arms!       Why    stand    and 

Wait  ? " 
lapis  cries,  the  first  to  rouse  their  souls 
Against  the  foe:   "This  thing  by  human  means 
Was  never  done,  nor  any  master's  art.  54s 

Nor  has  my  hand,  ./Eneas,  saved  thee  now. 
Some  greater  power  divine  has  wrought  the  cure, 
And  sends  thee  back  to  achieve  yet  greater  deeds." 

He,  eager  for  the  combat,  had  encased 

His  legs  in  golden  greaves  on  either  side;  55° 


Book  xn. 


5  >/ 


Impatient  of  delay,  be  shakes  his  lance. 
When  he  had  fitted  to  his  .side  his  .shield, 
PI  is  corselet  to  his  hack,  he  throws  his  amis 
Around  Ascanius'  neck,  and  through  his  helm 
With  gentle  kiss  embracing  him,  thus  speaks:  — 
"From  me,  my  son,  learn  valor  and  the  might 
Of  stern  endurance  ;   what  thy  lot  may  be, 
Let  others  teach.      In  battle  my  right  hand 
Shall  save,  and  lead  thee  on  to  great  rewards. 
Bear  this  in  mind,  when  riper  years  erelong 
Shall  come;   and  to  thy  soul  recalling  oft 
The  examples  of  thy  race,  let  then  thy  sire, 
And  Hector,  too,  thy  uncle,  spur  thee  on." 

Thus  having  said,  he  issued  from  the  gates 
With      towering     form,     and      shook      his     ponderous 
lance.  56> 

Antheus  and  Mnestheus  too  in  dense  array 
Rush  forth,  and,  crowding  from  the  abandoned  camp, 
The  troops  go  pouring  out.     The  blinding  dust 
Fills  all  the  plain;   the  trembling  earth  beneath 
Rocks  to  the  trampling  tread  of  hurrying  ieet. 
Their  coming  Turnus  on  a  hill-top  saw, 
And  the  Ausonians  saw;   a  shudder  cold 


5  1 8  The  Aineid. 

Ran  through  their  ranks.     Juturna  first  of  all 

Heard  them,  and  knew  the  sound,  and  fled  dismayed. 

iEneas,  scouring  o'er  the  open  plain,  57s 

Whirls  his  black  squadrons  on.     As  when  beneath 

The  bursting  skies,  athwart  'mid  ocean  moves 

A  storm-cloud  to  the  land  ;  alas !  what  fears 

Alarm  the  wretched  peasants'  shuddering  hearts! 

Ruin  upon  the  trees,  and  far  and  wide  580 

Destruction  on  the  harvest  fields  will  fall ; 

The  winds  fly  on  before,  and  to  the  shores 

Bear  the  deep  rumbling  of  the  approaching  storm. 

So  on  the  opposing  ranks  the  Trojan  chief 

Leads  his  battalions  all  compact  and  dense  5«s 

In  serried  files.     Thymbrceus  with  his  blade 

Smites  down  the  heavy  Osiris,  Mnestheus  slays 

Archetius,  and  Achates  Epulo, 

And  Gyas  Ufens ;  even  Tolumnius  falls, 

The  augur,  who  was  first  to  hurl  his  spear  590 

Against  his  foes.      A  shout  ascends  to  heaven  ; 

And  the  Rutulians,  in  their  turn  repulsed, 

Show  all  along  the  fields  their  dusty  backs. 

The  fugitives  i^Eneas  scorns  to  slay  ; 

Nor  those  who  meet  him  armed,  and  face  to  face,  59s 

Will  he  pursue.     Turnus  alone  he  seeks, 


Book   xii.  5  iq 

And  strives  to  track  amid  the  darkening  dust; 
And  him  alone  to  combat  challenges. 

The  warrior  maid,  Juturna,  alarmed  at  this, 

Overthrows  Metiscus,  Turnus'  charioteer,  i  > 

Between  the  reins  ;   and  from  the  beam  he  tails, 

Left  far  behind.      She  mounts  into  his  seat, 

Guides  with  her  hands  the  undulating  reins, 

And  takes  Metiscus'  voice  and  mien  and  arms. 

As  when  through  spacious  courts  of  some  rich  lord       6oS 

Flits  a  black  swallow,  round  the  lofty  halls, 

Picking  a  scanty  meal,  or  seeking  food 

To  feed  her  chirping  young,  through  empty  porch, 

Round  pool  and  pond,  her  twittering  notes  arc  heard, — 

So  through  the  hostile  ranks  Juturna  drives,  610 

And  round  and  round  her  rapid  chariot  flies. 

Now  here,  now  there,  her  brother  she  displays 

In  triumph,  nor  permits  him  to  engage, 

But  shuns  ./Eneas  on  his  track.     But  he, 

No  less  in  winding  mazes  wheels  about,  6«s 

To  intercept,  or  follows  on  his  steps, 

And  shouts  to  him  across  the  broken  ranks. 

As  oft  as  he  his  enemy  descried, 

And  with  the  flying  coursers  tried  his  speed, 


520  The  Aineid. 

So  oft  Juturna  turned  aside  the  car.  «*> 

Alas !  what  can  he  do  ?     On  changing  tides 

He  fluctuates  in  vain  ;  conflicting  plans 

Disturb  his  mind.     Messapus  then  by  chance 

Came  swiftly  riding,  bearing  in  his  hand 

Two  javelins  tipped  with  steel,  and  one  of  these  625 

He  hurls  with  certain  aim  ;  /Eneas  stopped, 

And  covered  by  his  shield,  upon  his  knee 

Dropped  down  ;  the  flying  javelin,  none  the  less, 

Struck  off  the  plumy  crest  upon  his  helm. 

Inflamed  with  wrath  at  such  insidious  arts,  630 

When  he  perceived  the  chariot  and  the  steeds 

Still  borne  afar,  he  calls  to  witness  then 

Jove,  and  the  altars  of  the  broken  league ; 

Into  the  thick  of  battle  rushes  on, 

Terrible,  with  the  auspicious  aid  of  Mars,  635 

Lets  loose  the  reins  of  anger  on  his  foes, 

And  fierce  and  undistinguished  slaughter  deals. 

What  god  unto  my  verse  can  now  declare 

The  dire  events,  what  carnage  vast  ensued, 

What  deaths  of  chiefs?  whom  Turnus  now  pursues,      640 

And  now  the  Trojan  hero,  o'er  the  fields  ? 

Was  it  the  will  of  Jupiter  that  thus 


Book    Ml. 
The  nations  whom  eternal  peace  one  day 

Would  join  should  clash  in  such  a  conflict  dire? 

Rutulian  Sucro  hurrying  comes  (here  first  •-»< 

The  Trojans  in  their  lull  career  were  checked 
Hut  as  he  came,  ^Eneas  in  the  side 

Plunged  through  the  ribs  his  sword,  th  |  death. 

Turnus  on  foot  encountered  Amycus, 
Thrown  from  his  horse;   his  brother  too  he  nut, 
Diores  ;   one  with  lance,  and  one  with  sword 
He  slays,  and  bears  away  their  severed  heads 
Dripping  with  blood,  suspended  to  his  car. 
Talos,  and  Tanais,  and  Cethegus  brave 
./Eneas  kills,  all  three  at  one  assault.  *u 

The  sad  Onytes  too,  of  Theban  race, 
And  Peridia's  son.     Turnus  strikes  down 
The  brothers  sent  from  Lvcia,  Pbcebns?  land; 
Also  Menoctes,  an  Arcadian  youth, 

In  vain  averse  to  war;   his  humble  home  •* 

And  craft  had  been  on  Lerna's  fishy  streams; 
Unknown  to  him  the  great  rewards  ot   tame. 
While  on  hired  helds  his  hither  sowed  his  -^r.iin. 
And  as  two  fires  let  loose  from  different  si 
Through  forests  dry  and  crackling  laurel  twigs  — 
66 


522  The  Aineid. 

Or  as  from  mountain-sides  two  foaming  streams 

Come  roaring  down,  each  flooding,  its  own  way, 

The  open  fields,  with  devastation  wide,  — 

So  through  the  conflict  rush  the  opposing  chiefs. 

They  know  not  what  it  is  to  yield ;  their  breasts  67o 

Now  boil  with  rage  suppressed,  now,  bursting  forth, 

They  sweep  to  battle  with  their  utmost  strength. 

One  whirls  a  ponderous  stone,  and  fells  to  earth 
Murranus,  boasting  of  his  ancestors, 

And  race  descended  from  the  Latin  kings.  675 

The  wheels,  beneath  the  harness  and  the  yoke 
Drag  him  along,  beat  down  by  trampling  hoofs 
Of  steeds  regardless  of  their  master's  fate. 
The  other  encounters  Hyllus,  who  in  rage 
Comes  driving  on;  against  his  gilded  brows  680 

He  hurls  a  spear,  that  brain  and  helmet  pierced. 
Nor  couldst  thou,  Creteus,  bravest  of  the  Greeks, 
From  Turnus  save  thyself;  nor  did  the  gods 
Protect  Cupencus  from  ./Eneas'  sword 
That  pierced  his  breast ;  nor  did  his  brazen  shield  685 

Avail  him  aught.     Thee  too,  O  ./Eolus, 
Laurentum's  fields  beheld,  upon  the  earth 
Stretched  at  thy  length,  thou  whom  the  Grecian  hosts 
Could  not  o'erthrow,  nor  he  who  overturned 


Book  xii. 


Grc.u  Priam's  realm,  Achilles;  here  thy  life 

Now  touched  its  goal.      A  lofty  palace  thine 

Beneath  Mount  Ida,  in  Lyrnessus  too;  — 

Here  on  Laurentian  soil  a  sepulchre. 

So  all  the  Latian  and  the  Dardan  h 

Are  turned  upon  each  other.      Mnestheui  now,  69* 

And  brave  Serestus,  and  Messapus  come, 

And  strong  Asilas,  and  the  Tuscan  hands, 

And  all  Arcadia's  winged  cavalry. 

Each  tor  himself,  all  to  their  utmost  strive; 

No  stop,  no  stay;  one  zeal  inflames  them  all.  700 

His  fairest  mother  prompts  yEneas  now 
To  turn  and  march  upon  the  city  walls, 
And  fright  the  Latins  with  a  sudden  blow. 
For  while  he  strove  to  follow  Turnus'  tracks, 
Amid  the  various  ranks,  and  here  and  there 
Around  him  looked,  he  saw  the  town  untouched 
And  tranquil  'mid  the  shocks  of  war.      At  once 
His  mind  is  kindled  by  a  greater. plan 
Of  battle.      Round  him  then  he  calls  his  chi 
Mnestheus,  Sergestus,  and  Serestus  brave, 
And  takes  his  station  on  a  rising  ground. 
The  Trojan  bands  assemble,  crowding  close, 


524 


The  sEneid. 


Nor  do  they  lay  aside  their  shields  and  spears. 

He,  in  the  midst,  thus  speaks:   *  Let  no  one  thwart 

The  purpose  I  announce.     Jove  stands  with  us. 

Nor,  though  the  plan  be  sudden,  let  your  wills 

Be  slow  to  aid.     The  cause  of  all  the  war, 

This  city,  and  Latinus'  rule  itself, 

Unless  they  will  consent  to  accept  our  yoke, 

And,  vanquished,  yield,  I  will  this  day  o'erturn, 

And  lay  their  turrets  smoking  on  the  ground. 

Am  I,  forsooth,  to  wait  till  Turnus  deign 

To  accept  the  combat,  and,  though  vanquished  oft, 

Return  to  take  the  field  ?     O  citizens, 

The  source  of  this  unhallowed  war  is  here. 

Bring  torches!     Reassert  the  league  with  flames!'* 


715 


710 


725 


He  said ;  and  all,  alive  with  equal  zeal, 

Move  in  a  dense  battalion  to  the  walls. 

Ladders  and  torches  suddenly  appear. 

Some  storm  the  gates,  and  kill  the  first  they  meet. 

Others  with  showers  of  darts  obscure  the  sky. 

./Eneas  himself  beneath  the  city's  walls, 

Amid  the  foremost,  stretches  his  right  hand, 

Upbraids  Latinus  with  accusing  voice, 

And  calls  the  gods  to  witness,  that  again 


730 


735 


Book    XI l.  J2C 

He  is  forced  to  fight;    that  twice  the  Italians  BOW 

Become  his  toes  ;    that  twice  thev  hreak  the  League. 
Dissension  stirs  the  trembling  citizens. 

Some  to  the  Dardans  would  fling  hack  the 

And  ope  the  town,  and  to  the  rampart!  (fa  740 

The  king  himself;    while  others  seize  their  trmi 

And  hasten  to  defend  the  walls.      As  when 

A  shepherd  in  some  secret  pumice  rock 

Has  tracked  a  swarm  01'  bees,  and  filled  the  holes 

With  bitter  smoke;   alarmed  thev  run  about  -4; 

Hither  and  thither  through  their  waxen  camp, 

With  loud  and  angry  buzzing;   through  their  cells 

Roll  the  black  fumes,  until  with  stirled  noise 

The  cave  within  resounds,  and  clouds  oi   Mnoke 

Go  pouring  forth  into  the  empty  air.  :;° 

Such  fortune  on  the  exhausted  Latians  tell, 
And  shook  their  city  to  its  base,  with  woe. 
The  queen,  when  she  beholds  the  enemy 
Approach  the  town,  and  sees  the  walls  attacked, 
And  torches  burled  upon  the  roofs,  —  no  troops 
Of  the  Rutulians  near,  nor  Turnus'  bands  — 
Wretched,  believes  the  youth  in  battle  slain  ; 
And,  smit  with  sudden  pangs  of  grief,  cries  out 
That  she  had  been  the  cause  and  guilty  source 


526  The   Ai7teid. 

Of  such  disasters ;  and  with  raving  words, 

As  one  about  to  die,  rends  with  her  hands 

Her  purple  robes  ;  and  from  a  lofty  beam 

Ties  fast  the  noose  of  her  unsightly  death. 

The  unhappy  Latian  dames  the  tidings  hear. 

Her  golden  tresses,  then,  and  roseate  cheeks  7^5 

Lavinia  tears  ;  and  round  her  all  her  train 

Runs  wildly,  and  the  palace  far  and  wide 

Rings  with  their  shrieks  ;  thence  all  the  city  hears 

The  melancholy  tidings  spread  about, 

And  deep  dejection  reigns.     Rending  his  robes,  770 

Latinus  goes,  bewildered  at  the  fate 

Thus  fallen  upon  his  queen  and  ruined  town. 

He  heaps  the  dust  upon  his  hoary  head, 

Upbraiding  oft  himself,  that  not  ere  this 

He  of  his  own  accord  had  not  received  775 

Trojan  iEneas  as  his  son-in-law. 

Upon  the  plain's  remotest  bounds,  meanwhile, 

Turnus  pursued  a  shred  of  straggling  troops, 

With  slower  pace,  elated  less  and  less 

Now,  with  his  coursers'  speed ;  when  to  his  ears,  78° 

Listening  intently,  borne  upon  the  wind, 

Came  from  the  troubled  city  cries  confused, 


Book  xi i. 


An  unknown  terror,  and  a  mournful  din. 
"Alas!   what  grief  is  this  within  our  wall    3 
What  wild  alarms  arise  from  every  Street 
So  saving,  bewildered,  he  drew  back  his  reins 

And  stopped.      His  sister  then,  who  had  as  umed 

Metiscus'  form  and  face,  his  charioteer, 

And  guided  still  the  chariot,  steeds,  and  reins 

Thus,  turning  to  him,  spoke  :   "  Let  us  pursue 

The  Trojans,  Turnus,  here,  where  victory  still 

Prepares  the  way  ;   others  there  are,  whose  hands 

Can  well  defend  the  city.      ./Eneas  there 

Joins  battle,  and  attacks  the  Italian  hosts. 

We  too  among  the  Trojans  scatter  death. 

Nor  shalt  thou  with  less  honor  from  the  field 

Withdraw,  nor  count  less  numbers  of  thy  slain." 

Turnus  replied  :   "Sister,  long  since  I  knew 

Thy  presence,  when  by  artifice  thou  first 

Didst  break  the  truce,  and  in  this  warfare  join. 

Now  thou  in  vain  deceiv'st  me,  though  divine. 

But  say,  who  sent  thee  from  Olympus  down 

To  undertake  such  toils  ?     Was  it  to  see 

Thy  wretched  brother's  cruel  death  ?      For  now 

What  can  I  do?      What  fortune  brings  to  me  *>s 

Promise  of  safety  ?      I  myself  have  seen 


528  The   Aineid. 

Murranus  fall,  none  dearer  now  to  me 

Survives ;  calling  aloud  on  me,  he  fell. 

Great  was  the  wound  that  slew  so  great  a  chief. 

The  hapless  Ufens  too  has  fallen,  that  he  810 

This  my  dishonor  might  not  see  or  know. 

His  corpse,  his  armor,  are  the  Trojans'  spoils. 

Shall  I  look  on  and  see  our  homes  destroyed, 

The  sole  disaster  lacking,  in  our  loss, 

Nor  with  this  hand  refute  the  bitter  words  815 

Of  Drances  ?     Shall  I  turn  my  back  ?     This  land, 

Shall  it  see  Turnus  flying?     Is  it  then 

So  hard  a  thing  to  die  ?     Ye  Powers  beneath, 

Aid  me,  since  those  above  avert  their  eyes! 

Free  from  that  stain,  I  will  descend  to  you,  820 

An  unpolluted  soul,  that  never  yet 

Unworthy  was  of  my  illustrious  line  !  " 

Scarce  had  he  said  these  words,  when  Saces  comes, 

Borne  through  his  foes,  upon  a  foaming  steed, 

And  wounded  by  an  arrow  athwart  the  face.  82^ 

He  with  imploring  words  on  Turnus  calls:  — 

"  Our  last  and  only  safety  rests  with  thee, 

Turnus;   have  pity  now  upon  thine  own. 

./Eneas  storms,  an  armed  thunderbolt, 


Book  mi. 

And  threatens  to  o'erturn  the  topmott  towers 
Of  Italy,  and  bring  destruction  down. 
Even  now  the  brands  are  Hying  to  the  rot 

On  thee  the  Latians  turn  their  eves;   oi\  thee 
They  call.     The  king  himself,  Latinus,  doubtl 

Whom  he  shall  call  his  son-in-law,  with  whom  ti$ 

Alliance  make.     Besides  all  this,  the  queen, 

Thv  own  most  steadfast  friend,  in  wild  despair 

Slain  by  herself,  has  left  the  light  of  lite. 

Messapus  and  Atinas,  they  alone 

Before  the  gates  sustain  the  battle's  shock.  »4« 

On  every  side  the  dense  battalions  stand, 

A  fearful  harvest-field  of  naked  swords, 

While  thou  art  urging  on  thy  chariot  wheels 

O'er  a  deserted  plain."     With  dumb,  fixed  gaze, 

Confused  by  shifting  aspects  of  affairs,  84$ 

Stood  Turnus  then.      Within  his  heart  boiled  up 

An  overwhelming  shame,  rage  mixed  with  grid, 

Self-conscious  valor,  and  love  by  fury  racked. 

As  soon  as  from  his  brain  the  shadows  tied, 
And  light  restored,  back  to  the  walls  he  turned 
His  blazing  eyes,  wild  tumult  in  his  bouI. 
When  lo,  the  curling  flame8  had  seized  the  tOWCT 
67 


53° 


The  Aineid. 


Between  the  floors,  and  rolled  into  the  sky; 
The  tower,  which  he  himself,  with  jointed  beams, 
And  wheels  beneath,  and  bridges  overhead, 
Had  built.     "  Now,  sister,  now  the  fates  prevail. 
Bid  me  not  pause.     Wherever  Heaven  may  lead 
And  Fortune  stern,  let  us  pursue  our  course. 
This  combat  .with  .^Eneas  stands  resolved  ; 
-Resolved,  to  bear  whatever  bitterness 
There  be  in  death  ;  nor,  sister,  shalt  thou  see 
Further  disgrace  for  me.     Yet  suffer  first, 
I  pray,  that  I  may  give  this  fury  vent." 


855 


860 


He  said ;  and,  leaping  from  his  chariot  down, 

Plunged  through  the  hostile  spears ;  and  leaves  behind  865 

His  grieving  sister,  and  with  rapid  pace 

Breaks  through  the  middle  ranks.     And,  as  a  rock 

Comes  crashing  from  a  mountain-top,  by  storms 

Torn  off,  or  washed  away  by  swollen  rains, 

Or  underslid  by  loosening  lapse  of  years,  870 

Down  the  steep  cliff  the  awful  mountain-mass 

Falls  bounding  to  the  earth,  and  sweeps  away 

Woods,  flocks,  and  men ;  so  through  the  broken  ranks 

Goes  Turnus,  rushing  to  the  city's  walls, 

Where  tracts  of  earth  are  drenched  in  blood,  and  darts 


Book  xii. 

Fly  whistling  through  the  air.      Then  with  his  hand      M 
He  makes  a  ^ign,  and  lifts  aloud  his  voice  :  — 
"Forbear,  Rutulians!     Latians,  lower  your  spe.ir> ! 

Whatever  fortune  may  befall,  't  is  mine. 

More  just  it  is  that  I,  instead  of  you,  Ho 

Should  expiate  alone  this  broken  league, 

And  so  decide  the  battle  with  my  sword." 

Then  all  the  troops  drew  back,  and  gave  him  place. 

But  hearing  Turn  us  named,  ^T.neas  now 

Forsakes  the  walls  and  towers,  all  hindrances  885 

Puts  by,  from  every  enterprise  breaks  off; 

With  joy  he  exults,  and  dreadful  with  his  arms 

Comes  thundering  on;  as  great  as  Athos  he, 

As  great  as  Eryx,  or  father  Appenine 

Himself,  when  with  his  waving  oaks  he  roars  890 

And,  joyous,  lifts  his  snow-peaks  to  the  skies. 

Then  the  Rutulians,  and  the  Trojan  hosts, 

And  all  the  Italians,  turned  their  eyes  to  see, — 

Those  who  were  holding  the  high  battlement  , 

And  those  who  battered  at  the  walls  below, —  89$ 

And  laid  their  weapons  from  their  shoulders  down. 

Amazed,  Latinus  sees  two  mighty  chn 


532  The  Aineid. 

Born  in  far  distant  quarters  of  the  earth, 

Met  to  decide  the  battle  with  the  sword. 

Then  they,  as  soon  as  on  the  open  plain  900 

The  lists  were  cleared,  advance  with  rapid  pace, 

And  hurl  their  javelins  from  afar,  then  clash 

With  din  and  shock  of  shields  and  ringing  arms. 

Earth  groans.     Fierce  fall  their  sword-strokes,  thick  and 

fast 
Redoubling.     Chance  and  valor  mix  in  one.  90s 

As  in  the  spacious  Sila,  or  on  the  heights 
Of  Mount  Taburnus,  when  two  hostile  bulls 
Rush  to  the  conflict  with  opposing  fronts ; 
The  trembling  keepers  fly,  and  all  the  herd 
Stands  mute  with  fear;  the  heifers  faintly  low,  9'° 

Uncertain  which  shall  rule  the  pasture-ground, 
And  whom  the  herd  shall  follow  ;  they,  meanwhile, 
With  ponderous  strength,  close  locked,  deal  many  a  wound 
With    horns   that   thrust   and  gore.     Blood  bathes  their 

necks 
And  shoulders,  while  their  bellowing  fills  the  grove.       vs 
Even  so  i^neas  and  the  Daunian  chief 
Clash  with  their  shields,  that  all  the  air  resounds. 

With  equal  balance  Jove  himself  sustains 


Book    Ml. 

Two  scales,  and  lays  therein  the  rates  of  each, 
To  see  which  one  the  toilsome  conflict  doom 
Ami  on  which  side  the  weight  of  death  inclines. 

Here  Turnus,  thinking  he  is  sate,  leaps  forth, 

And  rising  to  his  height,  with  lifted  sword 

He  strikes.      Trojans  and  trembling  Latins  shout  ; 

Both  armies  stand  intent.      The  treacherous  sword  915 

Breaks  short,  and  in  the  middle  of  his  blow 

Deserts  its  furious  lord,  unless  by  flight 

He  saves  himself.     Then,  swifter  than  the  wind, 

He  flies,  soon  as  the  unknown  hilt  he  sees 

Grasped  in  his  hand  disarmed.     The  rumor  is,  9P 

That  in  his  haste,  when  battle  first  began, 

While  mounting  to  his  car  with  coursers  yoked, 

He  left  behind  his  father's  sword  of  proof, 

And  in  his  hurry  snatched  Metiscus'  blade, 

That  long  had  served  him  while  the  Trojans  fled 

And  turned  their  backs.     Soon  as  on  arms  divine, 

By  Vulcan  wrought,  the  mortal  blade  was  tried, 

It  snapped  like  brittle  ice  beneath  the  blow, 

And  on  the  yellow  sand  the  splinters  shone. 

So  Turnus  in  mad  flight  o'er  all  the  plain  94* 

W'heeK  in  uncertain  orbits,  here  and  there. 

For  on  all  sides  the  Trojans  stood  around 


534  The  Aineid. 

In  dense  array,  and  here  a  wide  morass, 
And  there  steep  walls,  a  barrier  interposed. 

Nor  less  iEneas,  though  his  wound  retards,  94s 

So  that  at  times  his  knees  impede  his  course, 

Follows  and  presses,  step  with  step,  behind 

His  trembling  foe.     As  when  a  hound,  who  has  tracked 

A  stag  that  by  a  river  is  hemmed  in, 

Or  hedged  by  terror  of  the  crimson  plumes,  95° 

Baying,  gives  chase;  the  beast  meanwhile  dismayed 

By  the  steep  banks,  and  by  the  hunter's  snares, 

Backward  and  forward  flies,  a  thousand  ways, 

While  the  keen  Umbrian  dog  with  open  mouth 

Follows  him  close,  now  nearly  holds  him  fast,  95s 

Now  snaps,  as  though  he  held,  with  chiding  cry, 

His  prey  escaping  still  his  empty  jaws ; 

Then  shouts  arise,  the  banks  and  lakes  resound, 

And  all  the  sky  is  ringing  with  the  noise;  — 

So  Turnus  flies,  and  as  he  flies,  he  chides  960 

The  Rutuli ;   each  one  by  name  he  calls, 

Demanding  eagerly  his  well-known  sword. 

./Eneas  death  declares,  and  ruin  dire, 

Should  any  one  approach  ;  the  trembling  troops 

He  overawes  with  threats  to  raze  their  town  ;  96s 


Book   mi.  53S 

And,  wounded  as  lie  is,  still  presses  on. 
Five  circuits  they  complete  in  their  career, 
And  five  retrace,  now  this  way,  ami  now  that  ; 
For  now  no  slight  or  trifling  prize  [fl  .sought  ; 
'T  is  Turnus'  lite  and  blood  that  is  required 

It  chanced  an  olive  wild  with  hitter  leaves, 

Sacred  to  Faunus,  on  this  spot  had  stood. 

The  wood  of  old  by  sailors  was  revered. 

Here,  when  preserved  from  shipwreck,  they  were  wont 

To  affix  their  gifts  to  the  Laurentian  god, 

And  hang  their  votive  robes.      With  recklc>>  haste 

The  Trojans  felled  the  consecrated  trunk, 

That  they  might  fight  upon  a  well-cleared  field. 

Here  stood  ^Eneas'  spear;   his  arm  had  driven 

The  weapon  hither,  where  in  the  impassive  roots  9|0 

It  stuck.     The  Dardan  hero  stooped  and  tried 

To  wrench  away  the  steel,  and  so  pursue 

The  foe  he  could  not  overtake  by  speed. 

Then,  wild  with  terror,  Turnus  cries  aloud  :  — 

"O  Faunus,  pity  me!      And  thou,  kind  Earth, 

Hold  back  the  steel ;  —  if  ever  I  have  held 

Thy  honors  sacred,  by  the  sons  of  Troy 

Profaned  in  war."      Thus  he  invoked  the  god, 


536  The  Aineid. 

And  not  with  fruitless  prayers.     For  struggling  long, 

And  wasting  time  upon  the  sluggish  stump,  990 

iEneas  could  not  with  his  utmost  strength 

Relax  the  wood's  firm  grip.     While  striving  still, 

The  Daunian  nymph  assumes  Metiscus'  form 

Once  more,  and  runs,  and  back  to  her  brother  gives 

His  sword.     Venus,  indignant  to  behold  995 

The  daring  of  the  nymph,  approaches  now, 

And  tears  the  weapon  from  the  root.     The  chiefs, 

With  towering  strength,  with  arms  and  courage  fresh, 

This  in  his  sword,  that  trusting  in  his  spear, 

Stand,  breathless  in  the  combat,  front  to  front.  1°°° 

Meanwhile  the  Olympian  king  omnipotent, 

To  Juno  looking  from  a  yellow  cloud 

Upon  the  conflict,  speaks:   "O  consort-queen, 

When  shall  this  end  ?     What  further  yet  remains  ? 

Thou  thyself  know'st,  confessing  that  thou  know'st,     1005 

iEneas  for  a  hero  deified 

And  destined  for  the  starry  skies  by  fate. 

What  plan  dost  thou  pursue?     What  hope  is  there, 

That  in  the  chilly  clouds  thou  lingerest  still  ? 

Was  it  a  seemly  thing  that  one  divine  1°'° 

Should  bear  a  mortal  wound  ?  or  that  the  blade, 


Book  xii. 

Wrested  from  Tunnis'  band,  Bhould  be  re  tored, 

And  to  the  conquered  strength  renewed  I  n  ? 

(For  without  thee,  what  were   Juturna's  DOW4 
Yield  to  our  prayers,  desist  thou  now  at  Length  ;  1015 

Nor  let  such  grief  consume  thy  silent  heart, 
Nor  from  thy  sweet  lips  let  these  gloomy  cares 
Encounter  me  so  oft.     The  end  is  near. 
Power  thou  hast  had  to  harass  by  sea  and  land 
The  Trojans,  kindle  war  unspeakable, 
Tarnish  an  honored  house,  and  nuptial  rites 
O'ercloud  with  grief.      Further  attempts  than  these 
I  now  forbid."      Thus  Jupiter;  and  thus 
Saturnia  answered,  with  submissive  looks:  — 
"  I  own,  great  Jupiter,  it  was  because  »°»s 

I  knew  that  will  of  thine,  I  have  withdrawn, 
Unwillingly,  from  Turnus  and  his  lands. 
Nor  wouldst  thou  have  seen  me  sitting  thus  apart, 
Enduring  all  this  shifting  good  and  bad, 
But  girt  with  flames,  and  on  the  battle's  edge  «°j° 

Drawing  the  Trojans  on  to  deadly  war. 
Juturna,  I  confess,  I  did  persuade 
To  help  her  hapless  brother ;   greater  deeds 
Than  that  approved,  to  hazard  for  his  lite, 
But  not  to  bend  the  bow  or  hurl  the  dart. 
68 


538  .  The  Aineid. 

I  swear  by  Styx'  relentless  fountain-head, 

The  sole  religious  dread  that  binds  the  gods. 

And  now  in  truth  I  yield,  and,  hating,  leave 

This  warfare.     Yet  one  thing  I  do  beseech 

For  Latium  and  thy  royal  seed,  no  law  104* 

Of  destiny  forbids  ;   when  peace  is  made 

By  this  auspicious  marriage,  —  be  it  so, — 

And  laws  and  leagues  unite  the  hostile  tribes, 

Bid  not  the  Latins  change  their  ancient  name ; 

Trojans  and  Teucri  let  them  not  be  called,  1045 

Nor  change  their  speech  or  garb.     Be  it  Latium  still. 

Let  Alban  monarchs  through  the  centuries  reign  ; 

Let  Rome's  posterity  attain  their  might 

Through  virtue  of  Italia.     Troy  hath  fallen. 

Then  let  it  fall  forever  with  its  name."  1050 

Smiling,  the  Founder  of  events  and  men 
Replied  :   "  Sister  of  Jove  in  truth  thou  art, 
And  Saturn's  other  seed,  to  roll  such  waves 
Of  wrath  beneath  thy  bosom!     But  come,  now, 
Subdue  this  fruitless  anger.     What  thou  wilt,  105s 

I  grant ;   and,  vanquished,  willingly  submit. 
The  Ausonians  shall  retain  their  ancient  tongue 
And  customs ;  and  their  name  shall  be  as  now. 
But,  mingled  with  the  mass,  the  Trojan  race 


Book  xii. 

Shall  settle  in  their  land.      I  will  ordain 
Their  customs  and  their  sacred  rites,  and  all 
Shall  Latins  be,  one  common  speech  to  all. 
Hence,  mingled  with  Ausonian  blood,  shall  n  e 
A  nation  above  men  and  gods  in  worth, 
Nor  matched  by  any  race  in  serving  thee." 
Juno  assents  with  glad  and  altered  mind, 
And  leaves  her  cloudy  dwelling  in  the  sky. 

This  done,  the  Sire  revolves  another  plan  ; 

How  to  withdraw  Juturna  from  the  aid 

She  gives  her  brother's  arms.     Two  sister  Pests  >  70 

There  are,  called  Dira?,  whom  the  unwholesome  Night 

At  the  same  birth  brought  forth  ;   with  them  too  came 

Tartarean  Mega?ra  ;  snaky  coils 

About  their  heads  they  bore,  and  wings  of  wind. 

They  at  the  throne  of  Jove  appear,  and  stand 

Upon  the  threshold  of  the  infernal  king, 

Sharpening  the  stings  of  fear  in  wretched  souK, 

What  time  the  king  of  gods  disease  and  death 

Prepares,  or  frights  the  guilty  towns  with  war. 

And  one  of  these  Jove  from  on  high  speeds  down 

To  meet  Juturna,  as  an  ominous  sign. 

Down  in  a  whirlwind  swift  to  earth  she  flies, 


54-0  The  Aineid. 

As  when  an  arrow  from  a  Parthian's  bow, 

Parthian  or  Cretan,  shot  through  cloudy  skies, 

A  deadly  shaft  with  cruel  poison  tipped,  1085 

Comes  whistling  and  unseen  across  the  shades ; 

So  flew  to  earth  the  daughter  of  the  Night. 

Soon  as  the  Trojan  army  she  beholds, 
And  Turnus*  troops,  she  on  a  sudden  shrinks 
To  the  small  figure  of  that  bird  which  sits  1090 

At  times  by  night  on  tombs  or  lonely  towers, 
And  late  and  long  amid  the  darkness  hoots, 
With  ominous  voice ;  so  changed,  in  Turnus'  sight 
Flies,  screaming,  back  and  forth,  and  beats  her  wings 
Against  his  shield.     Benumbed  and  chilled  ic9S 

With  fear,  his  limbs  relax;  his  hair  with  horror  stands; 
His  gasping  voice  is  gone.     But  when  afar 
She  knew  the  Fury's  cries  and  whistling  wings, 
Wretched  Juturna  tears  her  loosened  locks, 
And  tears  her  face,  and  beats  her  breast.     "  What  help,  «io° 
O  Turnus,  can  thy  sister  bring  thee  now  ? 
I,  wretched,  —  what  is  left  for  me  to  do? 
Or  by  what  art  can  I  prolong  thy  life  ? 
How  can  I  brave  a  portent  such  as  this  ? 
Now,  now  I  quit  the  field.     Ye  evil  birds,  "05 

Add  not  your  terrors  to  my  fear ;   I  know 


Book  xi i. 


The  beating  of  your  wings,  your  shrieks  of  death. 

The  proud  command  oi  Jove  cannot  deceive 

This  his  return  for  stolen  maidenhood ! 

Why  did  he  give  me  an  immortal  lite3  m 

Why  take  away  the  fatal  law  of  death  ? 

Surely  I  might  have  ended  now  such  grit 

And  to  the  shades  below  accompany 

Mv  unhappy  brother.      I  immortal?   I? 

What  can  be  sweet  to  me,  of  all  I  own,  —  n«s 

What  without  thee,  my  brother?     Ah,  what  earth 

Can  open  deep  enough  for  me,  and  send 

A  goddess  to  the  shades  below  !  "     She  said  ; 

And  round  her  head  a  veil  of  watery  blue 

She  wrapped,  and,  groaning,  plunged  into  the  stream,   iim 

./Eneas,  brandishing  his  mighty  lance, 

Comes  pressing  on,  and  thus  with  angry  words :  — 

"What  new  delay  does  Turnus  plan  f      Why  now 

Draw  back  ?      'T  is  not  a  running  contest  now, 

But  face  to  face,  with  sharp  and  cruel  arms. 

Take  to  thyself  all  shapes  ;   call  to  thy  aid 

Whate'er  thou  canst,  of  valor  or  of  skill  ; 

Aim  with  thy  wings  to  reach  the  loftj 

Or  hide  thee  in  the  deep  and  hollow  earth." 


542  The   Aineid. 

But  Turnus  shook  his  head  :   "Thy  violent  words,        "3° 

Insulter,  fright  me  not.     It  is  the  gods, 

And  Jove,  my  enemy,  who  dismay  me  now." 


No  more  he  said;  but,  looking  round,  he  sees 

An  antique  rock,  of  size  immense,  that  lay 

Upon  the  plain,  a  landmark  'twixt  the  fields.  113s 

Scarce  could  twelve  chosen  men,  such  as  the  earth 

Produces  now,  have  borne  it  on  their  backs. 

With  hurried  hand  the  hero  grasped  the  stone, 

And  rising,  ran  to  hurl  it  at  his  foe. 

But  as  he  runs,  and  lifts  the  ponderous  weight,  114° 

He  knows  not  what  he  aims  to  do ;  his  knees 

Totter  beneath  him,  and  his  blood  runs  cold. 

Through  empty  air  the  stone  is  hurled,  and  rolls, 

Nor  clears  the  space,  nor  deals  the  intended  blow. 

And  as  in  dreams,  when  languid  sleep  at  night  1145 

Weighs  down  the  eyelids,  and  in  vain  we  strive 

To  run,  with  speed  that  equals  our  desire, 

But  yield,  disabled,  midway  in  our  course; 

The  tongue,  and  all  the  accustomed  forces  fail, 

Nor  voice  nor  words  ensue;  —  e'en  so  it  was  "5° 

With  Turnus;  —  with  whatever  valorous  strength 

His  soul  aspired,  the  fiend  denied  success. 


Book    Ml. 

Conflicting  thoughts  roll  hurrying  through  hit  brc 

He  sees  the  Rutuli,  he  sees  the  town, 

And  stops  in  tear,  and  dreads  the  threatening  steel  ; 

Nor  knows  he  how  to  escape  or  how  to  attack 

His  enemy,  nor  anywhere  heholds 

His  chariot  or  his  sister-charioteer. 

Thus  as  he  hesitates,  ,/Eneas  shakes 

His  fatal  spear,  and  chooses  just  the  spot 

To  pierce,  and  hurls  the  lance  with  all  his  strength. 

Never  did  stones  from  battering  engine  shot 

So  rend  the  air,  or  thunderbolt  resound. 

Like  a  black  whirlwind  flies  the  deadly  steel, 

Through     corselet's     rim,     through     sevenfold      plated 

shield, 
With  ringing  stroke,  and  pierces  through  his  thigh.      >>  ■ 
Down  to  the  earth  upon  his  bended  knee 
The  mighty  Turnus  sinks.     The  Rutuli 
Rise  all  together  with  a  groan.     Around 
The  hills  and  lofty  woods  roll  back  the  noise.  "" 

He,  suppliant  and  humble,  lifts  his  eyes, 
And  reaches  forth  his  hand.     "  I  have  deserved 
Indeed,  nor  do  I  deprecate  this  blow. 
Use  now  thy  fortune.      If  for  a  wretched  sire 


544  The  sEneid. 

Aught  of  regard  thou  hast  (such  once  to  thee  117s 

Thy  sire  Anchises  was),  pity,  I  beg, 

My  father  Daunus'  venerable  age; 

And  me,  or  if  thou  rather  wouldst,  my  corpse, 

Despoiled  of  life,  send  back  unto  my  friends. 

Thou  hast  prevailed.     The  Ausonians  have  beheld        "80 

A  vanquished  enemy  stretch  forth  his  hands. 

Lavinia  is  thy  bride.     Stretch  not  thy  hate 

Beyond  what  thou  hast  done." 

Stern  in  his  arms 
./Eneas  stood,  and  rolled  his  eyes  around, 
And  his  right  hand  repressed;  and  more  and  more        n8s 
Those  words  began  to  bend  his  wavering  will ;  — 
When,  on  the  lofty  shoulder  of  his  foe 
The  unhappy  belt  appeared,  —  young  Pallas'  belt 
Shone  gleaming  with  its  studs  he  knew  so  well ; 
Pallas,  whom  Turnus  overpowered  and  slew,  "90 

And  wore  on  his  shoulders  now  the  hostile  badge. 
He,  as  his  eyes  drank  in  the  hateful  sight, 
Those  spoils,  memorials  of  that  cruel  grief, 
Inflamed  with  fury,  terrible  in  wrath, 
"And    dost    thou    think,"     he    cried,     "to    escape    my 
hand,  "95 

Clothed  in  the  spoils  thou  from  my  friend  hast  snatched  ? 


Book   xu. 

'T  is  Pallas,  Pallas  slays  thee  with  thi    blow, 

And  takes  his  vengeance  with  thy  ac<  ill  ed  blood  I  '* 
He  said,  and  plunged  his  sword  into  his  brca  I 
Cold  lav  the  limbs  relaxed,  ami,  with  a  groan, 
Down  to  the  Shades  the  soul,  indignant,  tied. 


(<■> 


NOTES. 


Book  I.  Line  ^4.  "  \  ja  I ,  I  >:lcus' 
son."  Surnamcd  the  Locrian,  from  hia 
father,  king  of  Locris,  to  distinguish 
him  from  the  other  \u\,  ion  oi  Tela- 
mon.  He  had  offered  violence  to 
sandra  in  the  temple  of  Minerva,  on 
the  night  of  Troy's  destruction,  and 
was  punished  bv  a  storm  and  a  violent 
death,  on  his  voyage  home. 

Line  248.  "  On  the  Trinacrian 
shore,"  —  Trinacria  the  ancient  name 
of  Sieilv. 

Line   373.     "The    Trojan   Caesar," 

—  Augustus,  called  also  Julius,  whom 
the  poet  flatters  by  tracing  his  birth  to 
jEneas,  and  therefore  to  Venus  and  to 
Jupiter. 

Boon  II.    Line  161. 

"  Ye  pacified 
The  winds  with  blood,  and  with  a  virgin  slain." 

Iphigenia,  daughter  of  Agamemnon, 
sacrificed  at  Aulis  to  appease  the  anger 
of  Diana. 

Line  243.  "  Tritonia,"  —  one  of 
the  names  of  Minerva. 

Line  680.  "  Neoptolemus,"  —  a 
name  of  Pvrrhus,  son  of  Achilles. 

Line    681.      "The    .Vr:  !  r,"  —  the 
sons  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon  and    M 
nclaus. 


Line   773. 
-  II  ten. 


. 


III.     I. it 

'  — 
The   Island  of  D 
tygia. 

Line  41  z. 

'•  '  ',   luppirr   tha-; 

Was  P  ,    — 

Polyzena,  sacrificed  at  the  tomb  of  her 

lover,  Achilles. 

Book   V  I.     Line  634.      "  1 
tan,"  —  Helen,    wh  1    to 

Dciphobus  after  the  death 

Line  1014. 

nan  Icing 

irst  shall  gi^ 

Nurna  Pompili..  . 
Line  ic  ;-. 
"  Bui 

I  sccst,"  

Juii  .     C 
Line   II  ' 

Our  fori  •    — 

imus,  who  ga 

■ 


548 


Notes. 


Line  1084. 

"  A  youth  in  form  and  face  exceeding  fair, 
But  sad  his  brow  with  joyless  eye,  cast  down." 

This  famous  passage,  ending  line  1117, 
requires  for  the  general  reader  a  brief 
comment.  The  youth  here  alluded  to 
is  the  young  Marcellus,  nephew  of  Au- 
gustus, and  son  of  his  sister  Octavia. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  univer- 
sally esteemed  and  regretted.  Virgil, 
at  the  request  of  Augustus,  is  said  to 
have  read  or  recited  his  Sixth  Book  in 
the  presence  of  him  and  of  Octavia. 
He  was  careful  not  to  name  the  young 
hero,  till  he  came  to  the  line  Tu  Mar- 
cellus cris,  when  his  mother  was  so 
touched  that  she  swooned  away.  Vir- 
gil is  said  to  have  received  from  the 
princess  ten  thousand  sesterces  for  each 
verse  of  this  passage,  —  a  sum,  as  Pro- 
fessor Anthon  observes,  equal  to  nearly 
§7,000. 

Book  VII.    Line  170. 

"  His  parents  twain 
In  heaven  and  in  the  shades  of  Erebus,"  — 

Venus  and  Anchises. 

Line  628.  "Claps  her  hands,"  — 
literally,  "  striking  her  arms  with  her 
palms." 


Book  VIII.  Line  64.  "  From  Pal- 
las born,"  —  Pallas,  an  ancestor  of  Evan- 
der. 

Line  128.  "Great  Amphitryon's 
son,"  —  Hercules,  called  also  Alcides. 

Book  X.    Line  39. 

"  For  me,  I  verily  believe,  new  wounds 
Are  yet  in  store." 

Venus  was  wounded  by  Diomed,  the 
son  of  Tydeus,  in  the  Trojan  war. 

Line  281.  "His  parent  lake  Bena- 
cus,"  —  the  modern  Lago  di  Garda. 

Line  372.  The  line  "  Ultro  animos 
toll  it  dictis,  atque  increpat  ultro,"  oc- 
curs before,  in  Book  IX,  and  is  sup- 
posed to  be  an  interpolation  in  this 
place.     I  have  therefore  omitted  it. 

Book  XI.  Line  356.  "Mycenae's 
chief  himself,"  etc.,  —  Agamemnon, 
murdered  by  his  wife  Clytemnestra  and 
her  lover  ^Egisthus. 

Line  859. 

"Trampling  the  river-banks  of  Thermodon." 

Symmons  and  Conington  both  accent 
the  second  syllable  of  the  word  "Ther- 
modon."      Dryden     has    it    correctly. 

"Quales  Threiciae,  cum  flumina  Thermodontis 
Pulsant." 


THE    END. 


Cambridge  :  ElectrotypcJ  and  Printed  by  Welch,  Bigelow,  &  Co 


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